By Steven Goode and Jenna Carlesso
The Hartford Courant
HARTFORD, Conn. — The Hartford Firefighters Association and Mayor Luke Bronin have entered into an agreement designed to prevent a mass exodus of experienced firefighters concerned about their retirement benefits.
The agreement, signed Thursday, provides assurances to firefighters that are eligible to retire as of July 1, 2016, that the city will not make changes to their pension benefits, sick leave exchange, sick leave cash-out or retiree health insurance until Dec. 31, 2017.
The agreement allows firefighters who have submitted their retirement papers, but have not yet received a pension payment, one week to rescind their notice in order to keep working.
The agreement was approved unanimously by the executive board and membership of Local 760, according to a letter from union President Vincent Fusco.
“This agreement allows us to continue with upcoming contract negotiations without a forced mass exodus,” Fusco said in the letter.
Hartford Fire Chief Reginald Freeman said last week that more than 50 firefighters had put in their retirement papers and that he expected as many as 90 firefighters, including many of his command staff and other experienced, high ranking members, to leave because of uncertainty over the benefits that would be removed in the next contract. The department has about 290 firefighters.
Freeman said Friday that 66 firefighters had submitted retirement papers and that he expected some to still follow through.
“We will have a few, but not nearly the number we would have had if it had not been for the mayor signing this agreement,” Freeman said.
A source familiar with negotiations said Friday that Freeman played an instrumental role in crafting the agreement.
Bronin has built in a total of $15.5 million in union concessions citywide as he attempts to address a projected $48.5 million deficit in the next fiscal year.
A city official said Friday that the agreement would not have any effect on the monetary concessions the mayor is seeking.
Among the concessions Bronin has been seeking from the firefighters union are wage freezes and rollbacks to 2015 pay levels, caps on unused sick days and vacation days, no city-provided insurance after the age of 65, a change from 24 hours on duty and 72 hours off duty to 24 on, 48 off; and the elimination of two fire companies.
The change in working hours would result in firefighters’ work weeks increasing from 42 hours to 56 hours per week, without overtime. City officials said last week that some form of additional compensation had been discussed but Fusco said Friday he is unaware of any such conversations about more compensation.
Bronin said Friday that a large number of firefighters eligible for retirement were under the mistaken impression that they would lose their benefits.
“That was not the case but it was important to me that the firefighters operate with a clearer picture,” Bronin said.
Copyright 2016 The Hartford Courant