Dear Editor,
The front-page article regarding the city’s contract
negotiations with firefighters Local 2805 (
”
Last-ditch offer fizzles
”
) gave the impression that the union’s offer was the only one on
the table.
Dear Editor,
The front-page article regarding the city’s contract negotiations with firefighters Local 2805 (“Last-ditch offer fizzles”) gave the impression that the union’s offer was the only one on the table. We feel we must clarify some important points:
n The city did not “(reject) a labor settlement from the fire union.” Five months after declaring an impasse, the union decided to come back to the negotiating table and made an offer – essentially reducing the firefighters’ demands from a 26 percent increase to a 23 percent increase in overall compensation. The city didn’t “reject” the offer; it made a counter proposal.
n The union wasn’t the only one to offer “a compromise,” as the article suggested. In fact, the city not only agreed to the union’s stated top priority – a retirement enhancement – it agreed to an overall compensation increase of 10 percent, including an annual pay raise that the city had never previously offered.
n The city’s insistence on staffing flexibility was neither a surprise to the union, nor a wedge designed “to drive (the union) to impasse,” as Local 2805’s spokesman claimed. The city is merely invoking its management prerogative under state law. And the union’s claims that such flexibility would compromise safety are totally specious: if and when the city chooses to modify staffing, it would be to bring on-line a third emergency-response engine – a move that would improve safety for both firefighters and Gilroy citizens.
The city remains committed to negotiations, and has made significant improvements on its initial proposal. For the Dispatch to describe the latest round of discussions as the city’s “refusal to budge on the union’s latest offer” is not correct. The union has come down from demanding a 26-percent increase to 23 percent, which is still financially unreasonable for the city.
It was the union that declared an impasse in February, and the union that walked away from the table and told the city not to expect a counter offer. The city remains committed to good-faith negotiations. We hope the union will return to negotiations, so we can reach agreement on a contract and avoid a costly arbitration process.
Gilroy residents need to know the facts.
Al Pinheiro, mayor, City of Gilroy
