By Toni Scott
The Chico Enterprise-Record
CHICO, Calif. — Two years ago, with the city of Chico facing a $6 million structural deficit, the city’s firefighters agreed to forego their raises for two years and decrease starting salaries to meet the city’s need to balance its budget.
Now, with Chico forced to make $6.7 million in budget cuts over the next two years as a result of the recession, the firefighters are positioned for 4 percent raises in 2011 and 2012 at the same time City Manager Dave Burkland is seeking 5 percent wage reductions from all city employees.
When the contract between the city and the local branch of the International Association of Firefighters was signed in 2008, it was viewed as a viable solution to the city’s budget woes.
Today, if adhered to, the contract could very well threaten the city’s solvency and force layoffs.
“These are times that we did not expect when the contract was signed,” Burkland said in a recent interview.
The contract is not up for review until 2012, with the union under no obligation to open the agreement to negotiations this year.
But with union representatives scheduled to meet with the city in the upcoming weeks, Burkland has admitted the city must at least ask the union to consider wage reductions.
“We understand we don’t have an opener for that,” Burkland said. “But we still must get that 5 percent somehow. We need permanent cuts.”
Fire department salaries and benefits, including wages for management and administrative staff who are not represented by IAFF, represent 28 percent of Chico’s general fund budget, or $11,575,348.
The city is asking the department to reduce its salary costs by $590,765.
Burkland said he is not directly asking the department to give up its raises, but said salary savings still need to be achieved.
Chico Fire Capt. Steve Harrison understands the city’s position.
Yet he doesn’t want the fire union to always be forced to come to the rescue when it comes to the city’s finances.
As president of the union, Harrison said Chico’s firefighters have continually exceeded the city’s budget requests.
Harrison said he believes the Fire Department is being treated differently than the seven other bargaining units that represent city employees.
“It appears the fire department is being targeted very heavily on cuts,” Harrison said.
Based on the 2008 agreement with the city, Harrison said firefighters did not receive raises, while all other city employees received a 1 percent cost of living adjustment.
The union also agreed to remove the three battalion chief positions that had been provided for in the previous contract.
Additionally, in the last year, the fire department has lost three positions to attrition, was forced to idle Engine 1 at Station 1, is currently running with five firefighter vacancies and continues to see decreased firefighters on each shift.
In 2008, 22 firefighters worked each shift. Today, 19 work each shift.
But if the firefighters do not agree to re-negotiate their contract, Harrison acknowledged the situation will only be compounded.
Chico Fire Chief Jim Beery said based on preliminary numbers, the department is anticipating that three to four firefighters will be laid off if concessions are not agreed upon.
The layoffs would bring the count of all fire personnel to less than 70 employees for a department that will likely respond to 11,000 calls this year.
Beery said departments around the nation with similar activity operate with double the amount of personnel.
Calling the current staffing levels “substandard” Beery said the department cannot afford to lose any more firefighters.
“If the city staffing levels go down, it puts more responsibility on the firefighters,” Harrison said. “The calls won’t go away. We’re still going to respond. It just puts a lot on the backs of firefighters.”
Beery said Thursday that if staffing levels decline any further, the city may have to close a fire station and shuffle firefighters around, simply for their protection.
Fire departments are held to standards on the minimum number of firefighters that staff each fire engine.
Beery said if those numbers are compromised and there isn’t enough staffing for a engine, he cannot keep stations open and engines running.
Burkland hopes the city’s situation won’t get to that point.
“I don’t want to reduce any more staff or lose any more positions,” Burkland said.
Moving forward, Burkland said he is hopeful that the city and fire union will reach an agreement in the upcoming months.
Burkland said communication is a key component to the bargaining process with all unions and said when it comes to the fire union, he is willing to hear what they bring to the table.
“We know the dollar amounts we need to achieve, but we do want to listen to them when it comes to solutions,” Burkland said.
Copyright 2010 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved