Firefighter contract approved
The Laguna Beach City Council ratified a new contract for its firefighters Tuesday with terms that establish new rates for employee contributions that will save almost $400,000 over two years.
Current employees will pay 4.5% of the city’s 9% contribution to the California Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS. Firefighters hired under the new second tier retirement benefit formula will contribute the full 9%. The contract includes no raises.
“This is a significant action on the part of the city’s firefighters,” City Manager John Pietig said. “They deserve a lot of credit.”
Laguna’s firefighters voted to approve the contract Aug. 18.
Personnel Services Manager Barbara Salvini said second tier hiring has been implemented in other California communities.
Salvini, Finance Director Gavin Curran and firefighters’ representatives worked on the contract’s terms for months, according to Pietig.
One non-monetary change minimizes fluctuations in regular pay checks.
“Firefighters generally work 24-hour shifts, and they may work more or less hours in the course of a two-week pay period,” Pietig said. “The MOU provides for averaging pay checks so they get the same amount each pay period. That does not include overtime, which is paid separately.”
Other contract terms allow firefighters to put unused sick leave into their retiree health savings accounts and extends the automatic union dues deductions, which saves the firefighters’ association money.
Twitter: @CoastlinePilot