By Eric Bradley
The Press - Telegram
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Negotiators for Long Beach and its firefighters union are working on an agreement to reform pensions while also maintaining four-responder staffing on fire engines next year.
The emerging details roughly mirror a recently approved accord between the city and the Long Beach Police Officers Association that is expected to net at least $69 million in savings through 2022.
Multiple sources confirmed changes to the fire union contract that would include firefighters increasing their employee contribution toward their retirements from 2 percent of salary to 9 percent.
The city would extend the contract two years, to 2016. Firefighters also would receive a 6 percent raise retroactive to Oct. 1 instead of raises in 2012 and 2013; another 1 percent raise would be due in October 2014. Because of the firefighter pension pay-in, Long Beach would see a net reduction in personnel costs.
Additionally, benefits for new hires would be reduced, with future firefighters getting 2 percent of their salary as pension for each year of service while being eligible to retire at age 50.
Present members will continue to receive 3 percent annually and will be able to retire at 50. Existing pension benefits can’t be altered under current law.
Long Beach Firefighters Association President Rich Brandt valued the savings of increased employee contributions and the new benefit tier at more than $30 million over the next 10 years.
“I’m hoping it goes through,” said Brandt. “We understand that pension reform needs to happen.”
Councilman Gary DeLong, chairman of the Budget Oversight Committee, called the changes “the right step forward.”
“It’s essential we get pension reform so we’re in a position to hire more firefighters, which are needed,” DeLong said.
A key sticking point in discussions for firefighters has been a budget-saving plan to cut staffing on fire engines from four firefighters to three in the new fiscal year, which begins Saturday.
The move would save $3.2million and was part of a package of cuts as the city worked to close a $20.3 million deficit in the budget that was approved Sept. 6. The firefighter union says that reducing the size of engine crews increases the risk to firefighters and public safety.
Long Beach and the fire union are still in talks about how to craft an agreement keeping engine crews of four while giving the fire chief — and the city — latitude to change staffing if fiscal constraints call for it in the future.
On Tuesday, the City Council will consider a proposal that distributes an $18.4 million oil revenue windfall between public safety, infrastructure, parks and libraries.
The plan includes $1 million for potential contract amendments with the firefighters union.
More money would come from the pension give-backs and moving funds in the Fire Department’s approved budget, said DeLong.
Brandt said he expects to take a completed proposal to his union members in the middle of next week.
“The most important part for the citizens is the four-person staffing and being able to have a response model that is efficient,” said Brandt.
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