A 1-year labor contract between the City of Billings and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 521 was approved by Local 521 in January 2011 and is ready for ratification by the City Council.  The contract would give the firefighters the same 2.9 percent raise awarded to Teamsters Local 190 and Montana Public Employees Association - Billings Police Unit members for the current budget year. 

In addition, the contract amendments tentatively agreed to by staff would differ from the previous contract as follows:

• A random drug and alcohol testing policy and procedures to implement it for all firefighters would be approved for the first time;
• Language would be clarified so that qualified Captains may operate aerial equipment in the absence of a qualified Engineer;
• A rarely used Labor Management Safety Committee would be replaced formally with a Joint Labor Management Committee that uses interest-based problem solving to address issues between the two groups, with the issue leaving the committee and both parties retaining their rights and obligations if no consensus is reached;  
• The amount of the employer-paid health insurance premium that is applied to firefighters' gross pay for retirement purposes would be increased from $623 per month in 2010 to $688 per month in 2011, reflecting the increase in premium costs;
• Shift trades between personnel from different divisions, such as Suppression and the Fire Prevention Bureau, would require advance approval by the Fire Chief;
• Training off-duty would be voluntary and employees attending on-duty training would have their positions back-filled, using overtime if necessary;
• Suppression employees who must be at their assigned station during "alarm time" (non-assigned work hours) would be able to leave the station only with the approval of the Battalion chief;
• A Deputy Fire Marshall would be expected to serve in that position for two years and could return to Suppression only when a vacancy occurs, following a procedure that would allow recruitment of candidates from the fire consortium if no internal candidates apply;
• The Fire Chief or his designee would be able to authorize additional vacation leave to be used if an employee's leave for family illnesses exceeded the 72 hours per year previously allowed, for funerals, or for other circumstances;
• The uniform allowance would be raised for the first time in several years from $325 to $375 per firefighter, with the employee being responsible for any applicable taxes;
• Local 521 would be given two hours during recruit training to orient new firefighters;
• For the first time, the Fire Chief and the City Administrator would meet with Local 521 during grievances and arbitration procedures;
• International Code Corporation Fire Inspector I  would be added to the certifications for which qualifying employees are paid $50/month, and Deputy Fire Marshals would have to achieve that certification within one year of employment, or see his or her base salary frozen until certification is achieved; and
• Any employee who receives more than the Federal IRS Guidelines for tuition reimbursement would be subject to paying tax on the excess.

If approved, the contract would extend through June 2011, when all three of the City's labor contracts come up for negotiation at the same time for the first time in many years.  A copy of the current contract is available on-line at www.ci.billings.mt.us under Your Government, Human Resources and Labor Contracts.  A copy of the random drug and alcohol testing policy and procedures is available in the City Clerk's Office.

The Council may:

• Ratify the contract amendments as outlined;
• Decline to approve the amendments and return the contract to negotiation;
• Postpone action.

The cost of the 2.9% pay increase is $213,098.00 and the increase in the Uniform Allowance is $5,500.  The increased cost for the retirement on the City's contributions to Health Insurance is $6,216.45.

It is recommended that the Council approve the amendments to the contract as presented.