Among the union`s concessions was an agreement on a broader drug and alcohol testing program that will include random testing. A 13-year-old firefighter or paramedic, for example, will earn $105,973 in fiscal year 2023. A lifeguard who has held this position for 13 years receives $62,678. Both represent an increase of 11%. But the starting salary of a firefighter and a lifeguard remains unchanged at $56,199 and $34,868, respectively. “Our firefighters would like to thank the municipal staff, the labour lawyer, the pension lawyer and the pension actuary for their time and hard work in negotiating the collective agreement that succeeded us. These negotiations began almost 10 months ago, and we were finally able to agree on a mutually beneficial contract that has expired for 5 months. This contract will provide our firefighters with a competitive performance package that will allow our city to continue to recruit and retain firefighters and prevent our department from becoming a training ground again. The proposed pension reform will save the city millions of dollars in pension contributions and provide more competitive benefits for our firefighters. According to the city, the extended DROP years will save $961,000.
Workers who did not take the DROP would receive higher pensions. But Casale denied the figures, saying the corresponding costs to the city had not been calculated. She also wondered if it was fair for a firefighter to get away with about $560,000 in DROP funds after eight years while receiving his full salary during that time. It does not exist in the private sector. The City of Palm Beach Gardens offers a comprehensive benefits package for all eligible employees. Benefits may change depending on the availability of funds and collective agreements. Casale said she feared the program would stifle “upward mobility” and force young firefighters to wait longer for administrative positions to open. Petrolia has opposed an increase in overtime and vacation that will result from the new contract. More: Delray paves the way for a new 5-story apartment complex with 100 units in the rail district Note: Part-time workers must have worked 1,040 hours in the last fiscal year to be eligible. Please email her@greenacresfl.gov requesting a copy of the collective agreement. We are currently in the process of formatting the document to meet federal requirements. We apologize for any inconvenience.
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2928 includes all regular and probation-related firefighters/paramedics, firefighters/paramedics, fire captains and the Fire Marshal. Delray Beach will be the only department to have an eight-year DROP program. Mayor Shelly Petrolia called it outrageous to review the treaty on the eve of an election, noting that the impact on taxpayers will be felt in the coming years. She voted against the vote, together with Commissioner Juli Casale. Looking at the maximum salaries paid in the first year, it ranks last for all job titles, with the exception of the driver or paramedic, who is second to last. But in the third year, with the exception of new hires, the ranking rises to the third or fourth highest value. Petrolia said that if re-elected, she will push for a change in the articles of association to prevent a contract like this from being considered within 60 days of an election. “It`s being shoved down our throats,” she said. How does Delray Fire Rescue compare to other nearby cities? The city`s group insurance year is based on a calendar year that begins on October 1 of each year. The benefits described in this summary are a very important part of your city`s total compensation.
More: Delray banned “aggressive panhandling” but did not immediately apply it Petrolia, Frankel and Boylston all sought re-election. Tomey said the union and the city had made compromises to create a fair deal for the union and taxpayers. Boylston noted that the original union motion was an increase of more than $8 million, adding that the number had been significantly reduced. Petrolia and Casale questioned why no external labour lawyers were used in the negotiations. Boylston defended the decision, saying the city had saved thousands of dollars. For the duration of the new contract, the starting salary for new recruits in five other departments will be the last — Palm Beach County, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach and Boynton Beach, according to Chief Keith Tomey. Casale reviewed much of the contract point by point, challenging the decision to allow employees to participate in the Deferred Retirement Options Program (LRIP) for eight years, a five-year increase. DROP allows employees to receive pension benefits while working. Employees earn their full salary while their monthly retirement benefits are held in a trust fund that they can collect in retirement.
An advantage for the city is that the administration knows when employees are retiring. Boylston objected to Petrolia`s comments, saying it was high time the city approved the contract, noting that negotiations had been ongoing for six months. He called it a fair deal for the city and firefighters. Employees with more than 10 years at work will receive increases of up to 11% by the end of the three-year contract. But employees with a tenure of five years or less do not receive any salary increases, with the exception of longevity increases. Commissioners Ryan Boylston, Adam Frankel and Shirley Johnson voted in favour of the treaty. Petrolia and Casale said the contract approval process lacked transparency. It was due to be voted on Tuesday, but they complained that they had received the 129-page contract a day earlier (Monday) and asked for more time to review it. The municipal commissioners agreed to a two-day extension. Craig Mahoney, president of the Delray Beach IAFF Local 1842 Professional Fire Department, released a statement on the deal: DELRAY BEACH — Just days before Tuesday`s election, a divided city commission voted 3-2 to approve a three-year fire rescue contract that will cost taxpayers an additional $4.1 million over the next three years. The contract, with retroactive effect from 1 October, expires on 30 September 2023.
The increase in the first year is $219,000; the second, $1.5 million, and the third, $2.4 million. The contract also applies to lifeguards. .