Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Peter Gorman, President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA), today announced that a tentative contract settlement has been reached on a collective bargaining agreement covering the 50-month, 19-day period from January 1, 2003 through March 19, 2007.  The agreement includes a more than 17% wage increase and a modified salary structure for certain employees promoted on or after March 1, 2006.  The agreement is funded through productivity enhancements and other measurable savings consistent with the parameters of this round of bargaining and includes significant management and operational reforms.  The Fire  Commissioner will now have wider latitude in choosing the Chief of Department.  The agreement covers employees in the titles of: Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, Medical Officer, and Medical Officer detailed as Chief Medical Officer, Supervising Fire Marshal (Uniformed) and Administrative Fire Marshal (Uniformed).

"The members of the UFOA lead the charge for New York's Bravest," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "I am proud that by working together, we have forged an agreement that both provides significant wage increases for UFOA members while maintaining the City's need to fund salary increases through cost-savings and productivity.  This agreement provides the wage increases that the UFOA deserves and the management reforms and necessary flexibility to provide the safety and efficiency that the public demands."

"It's been a challenging round of bargaining and we believe we have reached an agreement that meets the needs of our members and protects our contractual rights," said UFOA President Gorman.

"We are very pleased with the terms of this negotiated agreement, which provides a significant wage increase for our deserving fire officers while providing greater flexibility that will improve management of the agency," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.

The principal features of the settlement, including compounded wage increases of over 17% during the contract, are as follows:

Wage Increases

• 5% effective January 1, 2003
  
• 5%, compounded, effective January 1, 2004
  
• 3%, compounded, effective March 20, 2005
  
• 3.15%, compounded, effective March 20, 2006

The following productivity and operational improvements have been agreed to:

For Lieutenants and Supervising Fire Marshals newly promoted on or after March 1, 2006, a modified salary schedule will apply, as follows:

• The salary schedule for new promotees to the position of Lieutenant will be:
  Year 1    $63,860
  Year 2    $64,633
  Year 3    $65,405
  Year 4    $66,435
  Year 5    $78,695
  
  
• The salary schedule for new promotees to the position of Supervising Fire Marshal will be:
  Year 1    $71,070
  Year 2    $71,585
  Year 3    $72,100
  Year 4    $72,615
  Year 5    $86,061
  
  
• Chief of Department:  The Fire Commissioner will now have the latitude to select from among the employees in the civil service title of Deputy Fire Chief in making the appointment to the Chief of Department, who will serve at the pleasure of the Fire Commissioner.  The parties agree to jointly support amendment of the Administrative Code by either local law or state legislation to remove all references to the Chief of Department as a permanent civil service title.  The Union will support any further legislation or rule changes that may be necessary to facilitate reclassification and/or eliminate the civil service examination for the chief of department position.  The Union agrees to support the establishment of the Chief of Department in the non-competitive or exempt class of the classified civil service.  The City agrees to schedule the public hearing in connection with such establishment as soon as possible.
  
  
• Surplus Officer Assignment: All Fire Officers who are designated "Special Assignment" or "surplus officers" will be advised at least 48 hours prior to a scheduled tour of the Department's intent to reschedule that tour based on the needs of the Department.  The ability to assign these officers to targeted tours will significantly reduce overtime expenses. 
  
  
• Training Day: The Department will have the right to schedule an annual eight-hour training day - which normally would have been scheduled at an overtime rate - at the straight time rate.
  
  
• Annuity Fund: Effective April 1, 2006, there shall be a decrease in the City's contribution to the annuity fund in the prorata amount of $261.00 per annum per member.
  
  
• Computerization of Injury and Illness Reporting: All officers will assume responsibility for the collection of patient care data and completion and verification of firefighter injury reports as part of the Department's efforts through technology to streamline and improve data gathering.  This will enable the FDNY to better evaluate quality assurance in patient care and to enhance safety guidelines for all uniformed members.
  
  
• Holiday Pay: During weeks where there is a holiday, all members who would otherwise have a regular day off during that workweek will be required to forego their regular day off.
  
  
• Supervising Fire Marshal: Effective March 20, 2006, the Supervising Fire Marshal classification will include a new Assignment Level II having a salary of $117,092 per annum.  The work duty chart for this detail will be five eight-hour tours and rescheduling without the payment of overtime will be permitted.  Employees assigned to this detail will receive compensatory time in lieu of cash overtime.
  
  
• Pending Litigation: In addition, the UFOA agrees to withdraw or discontinue, with prejudice, pending litigation involving several cases and/or actions.

"I want to thank UFOA President Peter Gorman and his Committee, Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley and First Deputy Commissioner Pamela S. Silverblatt and their team, and Budget Director Mark Page and his staff for their efforts in reaching this Agreement," the Mayor concluded.