Firefighters in Lancaster City are getting nice raises after a dispute between the city and the union has been settled.
This is the classic battle that cities and unions are having all around the country. The city is saying there is not enough money but the unions want more. But in Lancaster, the unions have won this most recent battle.
Tim Erb, the President of the Lancaster Fire Union, says it was solved by simple negotiation. “Like any negotiations you start high, they start low and you meet in the middle."
The 67 firemen that serve Lancaster City are getting nice raises. After negotiations between the union and a city failed, a third party arbiter awarded the union a three percent raise for this year, retroactive to July another three percent in 2013 and a 3.5% in 2014.
“It was a very fair arbitration ruling hearing, ruling," Erb said.
But Mayor Rick Gray disagrees. He says firefighting has changed, due to better technology and code enforcement, Lancaster firemen respond to half the fires they did 10 years ago. But he says firemen salaries are the highest ever and that needs to change.
The mayor gave us this statement. “They are getting a 10 percent pay increase in the next three years. Because of this the City of Lancaster tax payer is having a hard time getting the best services. We are paying more even with less firemen. They (fireman’s union) need to work with us so taxpayers get the safety they need for the tax dollars they spend.”
Erb says he disagrees, the work load they have overwhelms the staff. “Well, firemen get paid for what they do. And with the reduced staffing, the work load burden. So like I said, I think it was a very fair award.
The one thing the arbiter didn’t address is what Mayor Gray said the most important, which is how to use manpower most effectively and how to use volunteer firemen from surrounding municipalities.
A deadline for those negotiations is May 1, but it may also go to an arbitrator.
This is the classic battle that cities and unions are having all around the country. The city is saying there is not enough money but the unions want more. But in Lancaster, the unions have won this most recent battle.
Tim Erb, the President of the Lancaster Fire Union, says it was solved by simple negotiation. “Like any negotiations you start high, they start low and you meet in the middle."
The 67 firemen that serve Lancaster City are getting nice raises. After negotiations between the union and a city failed, a third party arbiter awarded the union a three percent raise for this year, retroactive to July another three percent in 2013 and a 3.5% in 2014.
“It was a very fair arbitration ruling hearing, ruling," Erb said.
But Mayor Rick Gray disagrees. He says firefighting has changed, due to better technology and code enforcement, Lancaster firemen respond to half the fires they did 10 years ago. But he says firemen salaries are the highest ever and that needs to change.
The mayor gave us this statement. “They are getting a 10 percent pay increase in the next three years. Because of this the City of Lancaster tax payer is having a hard time getting the best services. We are paying more even with less firemen. They (fireman’s union) need to work with us so taxpayers get the safety they need for the tax dollars they spend.”
Erb says he disagrees, the work load they have overwhelms the staff. “Well, firemen get paid for what they do. And with the reduced staffing, the work load burden. So like I said, I think it was a very fair award.
The one thing the arbiter didn’t address is what Mayor Gray said the most important, which is how to use manpower most effectively and how to use volunteer firemen from surrounding municipalities.
A deadline for those negotiations is May 1, but it may also go to an arbitrator.