By Garry Rayno
The New Hampshire Union Leader
DERRY, N.H. — With communities and residents struggling to cope amid an ongoing recession, a New Hampshire firefighters union is drawing praise for its civic-mindedness.
The Derry Professional Firefighters last week informed town budget officials that members are willing to forego contractual cost-of-living raises next fiscal year to save jobs and keep fire stations open.
Derry Fire Chief George Klauber and Town Council Chair Brad Benson praised the local union’s action.
“To me, it speaks volumes to the quality of the community we live in,” said Benson. “This is an extremely positive step the unions have taken to move us forward.”
But one labor leader warned similar agreements may not be possible in communities where trust is not as evident and labor relationships are not as positive.
David Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, said, “What this does shows is the Derry firefighters have come to the table in a collaborative way to work out an arrangement between labor and management that is beneficial to both sides. Will this happen in all the communities? I can’t say it will. Does one size fit all? I can’t say that either.”
Derry budget writers have been struggling to fit the proposed 2011 budget under the town’s tax cap. Forgoing the cost-of-living increase saves the community about $130,000, which is more than needed to meet tax-cap requirements.
Klauber praised fire fighters for taking the initiative with the council, noting past council/union relationships have not always been easy.
“I’m proud of them. Their concerns are my concerns,” Klauber said. “If we couldn’t get relief, the potential for station closure was great. With what the town council accepted, and due to the union’s generous offer, it allows us to move forward. I’d like to see this kind of relationship continue between labor and management.”
Maura Carroll, interim executive director of the Local Government Center, said Derry is the only community she’s aware of where a labor group has volunteered to forgo a contractual pay raise.
“It’s really wonderful. It’s great the firefighters were willing to sit down at the table and talk about that. Whenever you get to the point of sitting down and having a serious conversation about what’s best for everybody involved, that’s always a good thing,” Carroll said.
When the president of the Derry Professional Firefighters, Michael Willinsky, spoke to the Derry Town Council last week, he noted firefighters have participated in and watched the budget process since last fall.
“Our members are part of this community,” Willinsky told the council. “We are your neighbors, our kids are in the school systems, we participate in your church services. We understand the financial situation the town faces.
“We’re here tonight to offer to work on an agreement to forgo our cost-of-living raise for the next year period. With that money, we can maintain the daily staffing levels and keep stations open.”
Lang said the fact that the firefighters were willing to help speaks volumes about Willinsky’s leadership.
Lang said that years ago, his own local in Hampton did something similar to reach an agreement in trying economic times. He said there have been conversations in other communities with unions about forgoing contractual pay increases, but no agreements were reached.
Carroll said lots of towns are trying to have similar conversations to Derry’s.
“Certainly employees understand the issues and see the pressures elected officials and managers are under,” she said. “We see it; we’ve had no dues increase the last three years.”
Klauber said Derry’s firefighters put the good of the town before individual considerations.
“It’s not just about money; it’s about having a working relationship,” he said.
“The union came to me in the fall,” Klauber said. “I don’t know how often something like that happens, where a union will offer something like that, without being asked. But it truly reflects on the caliber of our firefighters, and their commitment to this community.”
Last year, Manchester’s unions agreed to give up half of their cost-of-living raises by putting off the increase from July 1 to Jan. 1, and in return the contracts were extended for three years to 2013.
The agreement saved the city about $1.8 million during the current 2010 fiscal year, but added an estimated $5 million through 2013. A separate agreement was reached between the teachers’ union and the school board.
Sunday News correspondent Carol Robidoux contributed to this report.
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