By Adam Townsend
The Orange County Register
FULLERTON, Calif. — In the face of big budget shortfalls, the City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to force 5 percent pay cuts retroactive to December on firefighters.
The Fullerton Firefighters Association was the last of several city bargaining units to hold out on the pay cuts, which started being implemented in the fall.
“It’s one of those situations that is not enjoyable,” said Mayor Don Bankhead before moving to the vote.
Shawn Nelson, who had pushed to impose the contract twice before, seconded the motion. Councilwoman Pam Keller voted against imposing the contract.
The cuts will save the city about $729,000 over the next 18 months of the contract, which ends June 30, 2011.
Union officials had said they were being treated unfairly compared with other city bargaining units. The police and other non-supervisory workers were able to get the city to consent to unpaid time off in lieu of retroactive cuts.
But because fire services must maintain minimum staffing, city officials said they wouldn’t save any money by offering the firefighters time off; they’d have to backfill vacant spots with other firefighters on overtime.
Joe Frilot, the vice president of the firefighters association, which represents 75 sworn and civilian fire employees, said it had recommended that the city find new revenue sources, such as renting fire station space to the city’s ambulance contractor.
But the council instead imposed the retroactive cuts.
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