City of Worcester, MA

City Manager and Worcester IAFF Local 1009 Reach Agreement to Preserve Jobs, Maintain Levels

For Immediate Release: 5/13/2011 9:19 am

Worcester, MA (May 13, 2011) - The City of Worcester and Worcester Firefighters Local 1009 have reached a memorandum of agreement on a three-year deal (Fiscal Year 2011 – 2013) that will avoid the lay-offs and the demotions of thirty-five firefighters and the likely closure of two fire companies and one fire station.

The agreement reflects both parties clear recognition of today’s economic challenges and a collective desire to preserve jobs and to maintain Fire Department emergency response times.

The highlights of the memorandum of agreement are as follows:

• Zero-Percent Base Wage Increases for FY 2011 and FY 2012.
• Two-Percent Base Wage Increase for FY2013, effective July 1, 2012.
• Flat stipends already within existing contract, and budgeted, rolled into the base effective 7/1/11.
• Transition to “GIC-like” Health Care Plans, effective July 1, 2011.
• Hazardous Materials Stipend increases, effective January 1, 2013.

“The Executive Board of I.A.F.F Local 1009 and I negotiated in good-faith for a deal that clearly recognizes the value of their member’s service to our community and also saves our firefighter jobs.” said City Manager Michael V. O’Brien. “I am very grateful for their leadership in these difficult economic times. Their willingness to find common ground will stabilize all the vital services of the Fire Department while we all look to better days ahead.”

The memorandum of agreement will now go before the union’s body for a ratification vote scheduled for late in the week of May 20, 2010.