Contract Between Fire District 1 and Bargaining Unit

Today the governing body of Sedgwick County Fire District 1 approved a contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2612 (Bargaining Unit). Negotiations between the District and the Bargaining Unit began in early 2015 and reached an impasse on the issue of compensation in late 2015. Pursuant to Kansas law, the parties presented their cases to a neutral fact-finder in January 2016. The fact-finder issued her non-binding decision in late March 2016. The parties remained at impasse after the submission of the fact-finder’s decision, following subsequent negotiations. On May 11, the governing body conducted a public hearing, with representatives from the District and the Bargaining Unit again making their cases directly to the governing body. The parties continued to remain at impasse following the public hearing. Pursuant to Kansas law, the governing body today voted to impose a two-year contract.

A summary of the contract changes include:

ARTICLE 14: COMPENSATION

• Return to “2012 Pay Plan” (Approximately 2/3 of Union employees will receive a raise between 1.8 percent and 3.7 percent).
• Bargaining unit employees who do not receive a raise as a result of this conversion will receive a 1 percent bonus in 2016
• In 2017, all bargaining unit employees will receive a 2 percent bonus.
• All step increases will remain frozen for the duration of this contract.

ARTICLE 15: LONGEVITY PAY

• Longevity pay will remain frozen for duration of this contract.

ARTICLE 16: COMPENSATION STRUCTURE AND WITHIN RANGE SALARY INCREASES

• No within range (i.e. step) increase for duration of this contract.

ARTICLE 17: REGULAR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

• Pool of qualified personnel may be used as regular part-time employees.
• Part-time employees can perform any and all work covered by this contract.
• Part-time employees may be used as a pool from which to hire regular full-time employees.
• Part-time employees are not entitled to any benefits.

ARTCLE 17A: VOLUNTEER AND RESERVE FIREFIGHTERS

• Fire District has the right to develop, maintain and make use of a volunteer/reserve firefighter force.
• Force shall have the ability to perform any and all work covered by this contract.
• Members of the force shall be fully qualified, as determined by the Fire Chief
• Members of the force are not entitled to compensation and/or benefits.