Ratification of a collective bargaining agreement between SeaTac firefighters and the city will be delayed at least two weeks. The firefighters have been working without a contract since the end of 2009.
Councilwoman Pam Fernald asked April 26 that council action on the agreement be put off until the May 10 meeting. She asked that the council convene a private meeting so she could ask questions concerning the contract. Personnel issues are handled in executive sessions with the public barred.
The council split 5-2 on a motion to call an executive session. Councilmen Ralph Shape and Tony Anderson voted against the motion.
Shape said the agreement had already been ratified by firefighters so it would not be possible to amend it. Council members could only vote for or against it.
Fernald replied she had only received the 48-page contract on April 22 and needed more information before voting.
Tony Anderson said it would be difficult to agree on a meeting time within the two-week period when all members could attend. City Attorney Mary Mirante Bartolo said Fernald could set up a meeting attended by any council members who could be there.
Resident Earl Gipson said he wanted to know the questions and answers given at the private meeting. Bartolo told Gipson to submit a public records form and it would be determined if the questions and answers could be released to the public.
Human Resources director Anh Hoang reported the firefighters previous contract expired Dec. 31, 2009. The city and International Association of Firefighters Local # 2919 have been negotiating since October 2009 with a tentative agreement reached during the mediation process in September. Firefighters ratified the agreement in March, according to Hoang.
She said the fiscal impact for 2010 would be $63,207 for wage and leave benefits increases and $81,732 for health insurance premium increases.
For this year, there would be $62,115 in wage and leave increases and $84,567 for health insurance premiums increases.
In 201012, firefighters would receive 90 percent of the Consumer Price Index plus an additional day off.
Noting he was a union member for 27 years, Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher criticized the firefighters union for what he said was "dragging out" the negotiations past the budget deadline and into an election year for council members.
"The firefighters have the best lobbyists in the nation," Fisher added.
On the proposed contract, Fisher observed, "There is nothing seriously wrong with it, except we are handing out more time off with pay."
Later, Fisher said his remarks did not mean he would vote against the contract.
