Hartford, Firefighters Union Reach Agreement

The city of Hartford has reached a four-year agreement with Hartford firefighters union, according to the mayor’s office, and it will go to the city council for approval. 

The new contract is significant because of the savings it will provide. It's estimated by the mayor's administration and the union that savings will first be noticed toward the end of the current fiscal year to the tune of $1.5 million.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said the four-year agreement with Hartford Fire Fighters Association, Local 706 will save the city more than $3.5 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and larger amounts in the years that follow. 

The union ratified the agreement on Friday, which will replace the current contract, which expired on June 30, 2016, and will extend until June 30, 2020. 

“I commend the Hartford Fire Union for recognizing the severity and the urgency of our fiscal crisis, and for doing their part to help put Hartford on the path to fiscal health. This agreement will save the City of Hartford millions of dollars in each of the next four years, and makes some very significant structural changes to reduce long-term liabilities. At a time when Hartford faces intense fiscal pressure, I’m proud that we were able to work together to sign a serious, responsible agreement for Hartford and its taxpayers,” Mayor Bronin said in a statement. 

The mayor’s office said the four-year agreement includes no wage increases for four years, a 70 percent increase in annual employee contributions into the pension fund, substantial changes to health care plan design, an increase from a 20-year to a 25-year service requirement to retire for current employees with less than 10 years of service, substantial increases in employee share of health care premium costs and a reduction in the city’s exposure for funding retiree healthcare after age 65. 

For new hires the agreement caps future pensions at 70 percent of employees’ base pay, with overtime pay not factoring into earnings for pension, a nearly 10 percent salary reduction across the board and the elimination of the city’s liability for funding retiree health care. 

Vincent Fusco, the union's president knew going in that this contract year was one for concessions.

Even if he wanted higher wages, increased health benefits, or something similar, Fusco knew those weren't possible given the city's fiscal crisis. Fusco ruled out allowing negotiations to go to arbitration

"We had to look at what's the best solution for today. I don't think the best solution was to drag this out. The finances aren't going to get better any time soon and structural change was needed. We understood that."

The city faces a $20 million shortfall to end the current fiscal year and a $50 million shortfall in the next fiscal year.

Fusco said he won't predict whether other unions will take the same tactic he did, knowing the union would have to provide givebacks.

"I did what I thought was best for our membership and the city. I can't speak for other unions," he said.

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