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Aerobatics, Fly-bys Thrill Airshow Crowd

Amendment Boosts Retired Officers' Pensions

By P. DOUGLAS FILAROSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, August 17, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- It took 16 years, but finally the city and firefighters
union Local 104 agreed on something. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That something is a four-year labor deal, giving firefighters 14-percent
raises and new equipment during the length of the contract, while allowing the
city to switch to more affordable health plans and curtail pension benefits. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The agreement marks the first time since 1980 the city and fire union
reached an accord without going to binding arbitration. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Inking the new contract outside City Hall, first-year Mayor Tom McGroarty
celebrated the breakthrough contract: "Normally, the city doesn't sign these
documents. We get a court order telling us to." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Union secretary James Delaney said the firefighters "recognize the city was
facing some costs." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Neither side could say how much the new contract would cost the city during
the next four years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Under the agreement, the union's 87 members, most of whose salaries fall
between $32,500 and $34,000, receive 3 percent raises in 1997 and 1998, and 4
percent raises in 1999 and 2000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It allows the city to start new firefighters at lower salaries. The new
arrangement would pay new firefighters 80 percent of the base salary the first
year, and 90 percent of that in their second year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The deal gives the city flexibility to switch from Blue Cross coverage to
lower-cost Access Care Health Insurance for new firefighters and shop for new
dental coverage for all firefighters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city agreed to add one firefighter to the union's ranks, which suffered
a five-member reduction through arbitration last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The union agreed to eliminate a "parity clause" in the contract, which had
guaranteed them any raise given to city police. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They gave a little, we gave a little," Delaney said. "That's collective
bargaining." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In all, the contract contains 23 changes from changing a firefighter's
classification to installing a new washing machine at the Ross Street
headquarters &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty commended firefighters for "their willingness to negotiate an
agreement that can best serve the long-term interests of the residents of
Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "They know if we have to raise taxes, we raise their taxes, too," he said.
"It's very refreshing to see this level of cooperation and vision." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty predicted a similar press conference next week to announce
another settlement with one of three other city unions. He said city officials
are "very close" to a deal with Teamsters Local 401, which represents 75
public works employees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two years ago, under Mayor Lee Namey, the city failed to reach deals with
any of its four labor unions by the time their contracts expired. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b, Firefighters See Victories In Contract For The First Time Since 1980, An Agreement Is Reached Without Binding Arbitration