The City Council is being asked to approve a tentative agreement for a 1-year wage reopener of a labor contract between the City and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 521.  The tentative agreement was reached on November 3, 2015 and  currently is being voted on by the IAFF.  If approved by the Council, the contract will apply retroactively from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.

The agreement amends only the following contract section:  Article VI Hours of Work and Compensation, Item B., 2. Wages, d. July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016:  All hourly base wages shall increase by an amount equal to 3.2%.

City Council may:

• Approve the contract as amended, with a wage reopener only, and retroactive pay to July 1, 2015;
• Postpone action to obtain additional information; or
• Deny approval of the wage reopener of the contract, forcing negotiations to resume.

The 3.2% COLA will cost $324,804 for FY 16.  This increase will require a Public Safety Fund budget amendment, which will be presented to Council in the near future.

Staff recommends that the Council approve the contract wage reopener, with pay retroactive to July 1, 2015.