Michigan Association of Fire Fighters

CONTRACT

“The Township wanted to disband the fire department and merge them with another community,” said MAFF Labor Rep. Donnell Reed. “We were able to prevent that from happening through other (non-wage) cuts. The no-layoff provision for the first two years of the 3-year contract gives them job security.”

Contract Duration: 3-year agreement ratified 8-27-13 and effective 7-1-13 to 6-30-16.

Wages: Preserves current wages for three years when Employer was seeking a 20% wage concession.

Retirement: Preserves defined benefit pension with a small concession of bridging down the multiplier going forward from 2.5% to 1.7% instead of the 1% that the Employer was seeking.

Fringe Benefits:

• New Paid Time Off (PTO) System which can be used for sick, vacation and personal time off, which will be paid out of the Employee’s sick banks at 100% by the end of 2013. The Employer wanted to eliminate sick leave banks permanently and pay out the current balances at 100% for the first 100 hours, then 50% for the next 100 hours, and 25% for the remainder of sick leave bank hours up to 800 hours.

  • No-layoff provision and maintain staffing levels for first two years of the agreement.
  • Maintain 28-day work schedule. The Employer sought an 8/10/12 hour work schedule at the discretion of the Fire Chief.

Health Care: Changed to a more affordable plan under PA 152 Hard Cap that reduces the Employer’s contribution obligation due to the cost of the plan.

Bargaining Team: Labor Relations Specialist Donnell Reed and Association President Jason Gonzalez.