The news that the City of Gilroy will pay 36 fire department
employees $560,000 in overtime this fiscal year, bumping earnings
for at least 10 firefighters to more than $100,000 annually (not
including benefits), should shock you
– and perhaps make you ponder your child’s future career
path.
The news that the City of Gilroy will pay 36 fire department employees $560,000 in overtime this fiscal year, bumping earnings for at least 10 firefighters to more than $100,000 annually (not including benefits), should shock you – and perhaps make you ponder your child’s future career path.
As one person quipped in an e-mail after reading our story, “Pay’s great. Hours are good. Women love you. And the world thinks you’re a hero.”
It’s tough to blame the firefighters for earning as much as they can. But it’s a different story for the city administration and the members of the City Council. What we have here is a total abrogation of management responsibility. What’s clear is that overtime has become a “part of the program” and that management has thrown up its collective hands. Even in the best of economic times, allowing this kind of OT is irresponsible.
Cut firefighter overtime to a manageable level and, for example, the program to fix city sidewalks damaged by street trees would have a permanent funding source. Cut firefighter OT to a reasonable level and the recreation department program budget could be increased by $350,000 annually.
It’s easier, of course, not to make waves, or to pass this off as the cost of doing “business.” But that’s where true responsibility comes in. The City Council should make it clear to the city administrator and the fire chief that this situation is intolerable and embarrassing.
It’s also why the City Council should put the binding arbitration issue before Gilroy voters as soon as possible. As long as binding arbitration for public safety employee contract negotiations is in place, the firefighters have an ace in the hole and the city has a financial albatross around its neck. Instead of complaining about the budget “crisis” and handing out $560,000 in OT, the Council should be asking Gilroy voters to reconsider binding arbitration on the next available ballot. Cancelling some of the concessions bestowed upon the fire department by the binding arbitrator in the last contract would give city administrators much more flexibility in firefighter scheduling and staffing.
The current firefighter contract demands include a 9 percent raise, a retirement program that would allow firefighters to retire at age 50 with 90 percent of their salary, more discretionary vacation, paid time off for union-related business, fully paid health care premiums and a post-retirement cash bonus.
The demands are unreasonable. Gilroy residents should not have to bear this tax burden. It’s time for our leaders to act.
