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Firefighters union wins
pay raise vote
Next up: Full council will consider the 1% measure
By Chris Conley
May 23, 2006
The Memphis firefighters union gained a victory Monday in a showdown with
the City of Memphis over wage increases.
By a vote of 2-to-1, the City Council impasse committee accepted the
International Association of Firefighters proposal for a 1 percent pay
increase for the next two years, beginning in July.
The city is proposing that unionized employees get no raises during that
time.
On June 6, the impasse committee's decision is scheduled to go before the
full council, which defeated a similar recommendation for the Memphis
Police Association 7-5.
Thomas Malone, chief negotiator for the firefighters, expressed optimism
that the full council would see things the firefighters' way.
"I have every bit of confidence in the system," Malone said.
Council member Dedrick Brittenum, who chaired the impasse meeting and
voted with the firefighters, said he believed the city could afford the
minimal raises without seriously affecting efforts to build a $50 million
surplus within the next two years.
One percent raises for the city's unionized employees would cost about $6
million during that time.
Both the police and firefighters unions agreed to put off the 1 percent
raise until next January, making it, in effect, a 1/2 percent raise for
the 2007 fiscal year, which begins July 1. They agreed to revisit the
city's financial situation next July to see whether the city could afford
more salary increases.
Brittenum would not predict how the full council vote would turn out.
Mayor Willie Herenton has proposed freezing salaries for all of the city's
22 unions while the city tries to recover economically. Part of that plan
is building a $50 million surplus.
Council member E. C. Jones voted to accept the firefighters' package.
Council Member Tom Marshall voted against.
"I am very nervous about the future of this community," Marshall said. "I
am disinclined to do it (vote for raise) until we have a better picture of
where we stand."
-- Chris Conley: 529-2595 |