Firefighters’ Raise Smaller Than Asked

The city’s firefighters fought hard for a 5% raise over two years. Instead, they’ll have to settle for a 1.75% pay raise for the current fiscal year.

After failed negotiations that lasted months, the City Council this week approved the one-year contract, retroactive to July. Firefighters had wanted a contract giving them a 2% raise this year and a 3% raise next year.

Firefighters declared an impasse after failing to negotiate a mutually acceptable contract.

“We’re very disappointed,” Fire Capt. Kurt Bertuzzi said. He believes the city could pay the higher wages. By not granting the proposed contract, he said, the city is sending a message that it does not value its Fire Department.

Firefighters picketed City Hall in November in an effort to garner public support. Since then, they have been passing out leaflets outlining their reasons for a two-year, 5% pay hike.

But city officials said Fullerton’s coffers have decreased in the last six years.

“Since 1990, the city’s total general fund has declined by 10%,” City Manager James L. Armstrong said. “Our ability to pay has gone down, yet during that time, the Fire Department budget has gone up 10% because this City Council has said that public safety is a high priority.”

Mayor Chris Norby agreed, saying that the city has given higher pay raises to firefighters than to other municipal employees in recent years.

“Appreciation can take many forms and, of course, what we’re talking about here is money--dollars and cents” Norby said. “The city does appreciate its Fire Department.”

Firefighters said they plan to continue handing out informational fliers, comparing their pay with that of other firefighters across the county. They also are planning another demonstration.

Contract negotiations will open again soon, officials said, for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1.