SJ Firefighters Consider Concessions Proposal
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) - Hours after San Jose firefighters scrambled to respond to three early morning fires, members of a firefighters union met to vote on a proposal by the city that would allow for the rehiring of 49 recently laid-off firefighters.
The firefighters union, San Jose Firefighters Local 230, met Thursday to discuss and vote on the city's offer, which asks for an 8.9 percent cut in total compensation that would amount to a 14 percent pay cut, union spokesman Tom Saggau said.
More than 300 firefighters participated in Thursday's meeting, and about that many will cast their votes at a second meeting today, Saggau said.
Alex Gurza, the San Jose director of employee relations, released a statement Thursday saying that if the union approves the city's proposal, the city would rehire the 49 firefighters.
The city has said it was forced to lay off the firefighters after negotiations between the city and union stalled and a proposal put forward by the union failed to achieve the city's cost-cutting goals.
Podcast
The union has offered to take a 5.25 percent wage reduction and to accept increased health care co-pays and premiums and other health care coverage reductions, Saggau said.
It was the same reduction package offered by San Jose's police union, which was accepted by the city.
The union Thursday also discussed a measure the City Council voted to put on the November ballot allowing the city more flexibility in negotiating union contracts.
The measure would allow voters to approve a charter change to reform the arbitration process that currently dictates how the city is allowed to negotiate with police and fire unions.
Saggau said members formulated campaign strategies to fight the measure and also addressed the negative portrayal of firefighters and ways to improve their image.
"We're going to be very vigorous and proactive on people's doors to deliver a message from firefighters," Saggau said. "At the end of the day, sworn firefighters will trump the pencil-pushing bureaucrats at City Hall."
