Firefighters agree to pay portion of health care; police decline
By ANDREA POTEET
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – After years of negotiations, the Fire Department agreed to concessions last week while the Police Department declined them.
In a letter dated Feb. 28, the Allen Park Firefighters Local 1410 agreed to pay a portion of its health insurance costs, among other concessions, as an answer to a letter the city sent them and the two police unions Feb. 15. The letter asked for 10 percent cuts to base pay and for the unions to pay 20 percent of their insurance costs.
According to the letter, the fire union did not accept the wage cuts, but did agree to the insurance costs and to maintain current staffing levels of 22 active firefighters plus one on leave.
The letter also stipulates that a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two parties, originally set to expire in June 2013, be extended until June 2016 and the city immediately pay a 3 percent raise due from July 1 to Jan. 22.
Wayne County Judge John Gillis on Feb. 24 ordered the city to hire six more firefighters to fulfill its contract with the union and that the city pay the raise in question.
The letter also stipulates that the concessions depend on the successful passing of the May 8 millage for 4 mills for two years and that the union’s contract be upheld if an Emergency Financial Manager is appointed.
The letter also says the union will waive all unpaid overtime due after a 2010 memorandum of understanding between the two parties.
Union President Jeff O’Riley and City Administrator John Zech did not respond to requests for comment for this story by press time.