Aldermen OK fire deal
Waterbury contract 1 of 3 approved despite financial fears

BY PENELOPE OVERTON | REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 7:40 PM EST

WATERBURY — The Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to adopt three new labor union deals, giving the city its first negotiated work contracts since the state oversight board ceded financial control to the city.

The board voted 12-2, with one abstention, to adopt a new three-year deal with the firefighters union; 13-1, with one abstention, to adopt a two-year extension to the blue-collar union contract; and unanimously to adopt a two-year, white-collar deal extension.

Independent Alderman Carlo Palladino, a city worker and union member, recused himself from the discussion and vote on all three labor deals, which ate up most of the meeting before it was recessed at 10:30 p.m. because of bad weather.

The proposed fire union contract sparked the most heated debate, with several of the aldermen saying they were voting in favor of the contract despite fiscal concerns because they didn't think they would get a better deal during binding arbitration.

"It protects the taxpayers from the risks and costs of the binding arbitration panel," said Chairman J. Paul Vance Jr. in describing the contract. "I do not want to spend more time and taxpayer money on legal fees and risk a more expensive deal."

Democrat Anne P. Phelan, who heads up the board's personnel subcommittee, and Republican Paul V. Ciochetti voted against the fire deal, saying the city's concessions to the union threatened to undo the fiscal gains made during the oversight board era.

"We have to consider what the taxpayers can do," Phelan said. "We can't over do it. I'm not against raises per se but I just think that this contract, at this time, is just a bit too rich for our pockets."

Resident William R. Harris echoed Phelan's concerns.

"I fear that tonight we may be making our first step to joining Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven in their financial peril," Harris said. "Is it wise to abandon the financial blueprint that has allowed us to remain in our financially enviable position?"

The contract will cut the average firefighter's workweek from 50 to 42 hours in July and grants 1.5 percent raises in fiscal year 2009-10 and 2.5 percent raises in fiscal year 2010-11. The city estimates it will add $1.3 million to next year's budget.

In return, the city gains the eventual elimination of full medical benefits for retirees, and the ability to close an engine company and the transfer of first responder duties to the fire department without union complaint.

A dozen firefighters, many clad in their navy blue dress uniforms, watched from the back of the atrium at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School as the aldermen debated their future salaries, staffing levels and work schedules.

They exchanged smiles and quiet handshakes after the board adopted the deal.

The only active firefighter to speak publicly about the deal at the meeting was union President Fernando Ramirez. He said the proposal addressed just a few of the union's major concerns while "keeping the majority of the oversight board contract intact."

The months-long negotiations with the city were tense, and caused tensions which exploded during the state oversight board tenure to flare up again.

When laying out reasons why the Board of Aldermen should approve the fire deal, personnel director Peter Abare Brown cited the restoration of good labor relations as one benefit to the city. Fire Chief Michael Maglione said it would restore good morale.

"What we wanted was to negotiate something to establish good labor relations, something affordable and something that benefited both sides," Abare-Brown told the board. "Perhaps the oversight board had gone a bit too far with the fire union."