By J.M. Brown
The San Jose Mercury News
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — In exchange for a two-year extension of their contract, members of the Santa Cruz Firefighters Association and a union representing fire department managers ratified an agreement Tuesday to take a 10 percent cut in their salary and benefits for the next two years and implement a two-tiered pension plan.
The Police Officers Association also ratified a deal Tuesday to increase the contribution to their pensions by 5 percent. Public safety spending makes up roughly two-thirds of the city budget, which is facing multimillion-dollar deficits several years into the future.
The city’s human resources director, Lisa Sullivan, announced the deals at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, saying the deal with firefighters was crafted earlier in the day and immediately voted on by members.
The deal comes less than a week before voters will weigh in on Measure H, a proposed increase in the utility users tax that will fund public safety and other city services. Among the biggest financial donors to the Measure H campaign are the police and firefighters unions.
Mayor Mike Rotkin applauded both deals, saying, “Here are some real facts on the ground that should make a difference on how you vote on Measure H.” However, Sullivan said the deals, from the perspective of city negotiators, were not purposely timed to the election. She said the firefighters wanted to avoid prolonged talks over the upcoming contract expiration. The deal with police comes after months of talks with the officers union.
Outside the meeting, Fire Chief Mark Ramos said the fire department agreed to the concessions Tuesday to boost Measure H and show the public they are serious about cutting costs.
The firefighters have agreed to change their pension benefit to allow them to retire at age 55 with 3 percent of their final year’s salary multiplied by their years of service. Currently, firefighters and police can retire at 50 and receive the same percentage.
There were no immediate estimates available on the savings that will result from the deal with firefighters, but Sullivan said the agreement will negate the need to bargain over contracts that would have expired in August.
Copyright 2010 San Jose Mercury News
All Rights Reserved