Spokane7
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April 21, 2009 in City
Fire chiefs to get raises despite layoff concerns
Council members say options limited: agree to raises or face arbitration
Spokane city fire battalion chiefs will get raises over the next four years, despite concerns by some City Council members that the economy is forcing taxpayers to take cuts or face layoffs.
The Spokane City Council was told Monday that it had little choice but to give members of the Spokane Association of Fire Officers – the union that represents 10 battalion chiefs – raises negotiated in collective bargaining sessions. If the council refused, the city could be accused of bad-faith bargaining and facing binding arbitration, said Gita Hatcher, who represented the city in negotiations.
The raises, which are between 3.6 percent and 5.8 percent for battalion chiefs over the life of the contract, are in line with settlements around the state in departments of similar size. That’s what an arbitrator would look at in binding arbitration, Hatcher said.
The battalion chiefs are accepting a higher cost of medical insurance, she added. Last year, the chiefs made between $108,000 and $123,000.
“It is a good contract. It is an equitable contract,” Hatcher said.
Councilman Mike Allen said he was voting no even though it was “largely a symbolic vote.” City employees are in line for raises that can’t be sustained with projected revenues, he said, and at some point the city will have to lay off workers.
Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, who also voted no, questioned a raise for city employees at a time when residents are being asked to take wage cuts to avoid losing their jobs. She called state laws requiring binding arbitration for public employees an “unfunded mandate.”
Councilman Bob Apple defended the contract and the process. People who complain about being presented with a contract they can’t change should sit in on negotiations, he said.
No one gets everything they want in negotiations, Council President Joe Shogan said: “It’s a good agreement. It’s a tough agreement.”
Reach Jim Camden at (509) 459-5461 or via e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com.
Romney/Paul split weighing on county GOP 
WayFedUp2 on April 21 at 12:52 a.m.
Yep, government execs if you will, take care of their own first as usual, from city, county, state, federal. No snow plow money, no street repair money, no money for county health care, thousands out of work, losing their homes, and more layoffs coming, can’t pay their utility bills, cutting public school money, library, etc., etc., etc., Where in the Hell are you getting this money? RAISE TAXES ON EVERYTHING, OF COURSE. you don’t realize that people can not live now, but you don’t care either.
liarsinnews on April 21 at 6:34 a.m.
Its obvious, the strong mayor change isn`t working. We have a ship without a rudder. I think we should go back to the city manager and let the pros take over. Time and again, the mayor proves she lacks the leadership necessary to run the Lilac City.
DocTom on April 21 at 6:51 a.m.
Unions keep lousy cops in the department and six figure incomes to the fire chiefs. These same unions make campaign contributions…humm….. seems to add up financially. Who in Spokane makes a six figure income today? Bloat at the top keeps taxes nice and high. Thank you for keeping us “broke folk” in mind - again. I am really excited to see the chief’s making the big bucks for sitting around the firehouse and supervising the working troops. If the City Council and the Mayor had ANY concern for the people of Spokane, they would have said “Absolutely NO” and fought it out in court. It’s all a big money generation machine at the taxpayer’s expense. Time to make a complete change in EVERY elected position.
westside on April 21 at 7:18 a.m.
Binding arbitration is the killer.It is a state law on the books created by goverrment judicial and public safety employees!! Basicly it guarantees pay raises for the rest of their lives. Absolutely nothing can be done. If the council says no way, an arbitrator comes in from Seattle and he says Seattle Bat chiefs are paid $130,000 to $160,000 a year. So, Spokane Bat chiefs are wayyyy under paid! Dosen’t matter if the city of Spokane is in a budget crunch…it is like stealing from the poor to serve them selves!!! Greeeed! But…it’s the LAW!
johnclarke on April 21 at 7:19 a.m.
Does the city of Spokane really need TEN battalion chiefs? Seriously, ten ? The city’s streets look like we are living in a 3rd world country, and the taxpayers are coughing up ten six figure salaries for what ? Talk about a good ‘ol boys club !
The entire firefighting program in Spokane could stand an efficiency audit. Brand new firehouses everywhere, new equipment every year - this town can’t afford it.
biker on April 21 at 8:11 a.m.
When are we going to wise up and realize our fire depts. are one of the most overpaid and over-marketed gov’t agency. Do we really need the number of fire stations and fire personnel we have. These guys make work for themselves by responding to an increasing number of calls every year. One problem, they don’t need to be at most of the calls they respond to. Duplication and triplication of efforts at medical calls seems like a huge waste of the troops, but it does keep them busier. The ambulance personnel will transport and provide medical care….what are the guys in the heavy outfits and big shiny red truck doing there? I am convinced we could do with half the personnel in our fire departments and half the number of fire houses. Our current staffing is a huge luxury we can not sustain. More fire guys equals more battalion chief equals more pay. It’s a trend that has been spiraling out of control for quite some time. Wake up and be prepared for a rousing response from some pro-fire supporter who are bound to mention children, elderly, wildfires and safety all in the same sentence.