MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION ON A PAY DIFFERENTIAL
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Kevin Gallagher, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA), the labor union that represents New York City's Firefighters, today announced a tentative settlement regarding the payment of a differential to Firefighters who perform Certified First Responder duties. The settlement resulted after a series of discussions with the UFA regarding duties that Firefighters have assumed in the CFR-D program which deviate substantially from the job description for Firefighters. The agreement is subject to ratification by the Firefighters.
"The differential represents a justified reward for the Firefighters' efforts who each day perform heroic life-saving duties," said Mayor Giuliani. "This agreement will serve as compensation for New York's Bravest who continue to go the extra mile to protect the lives of the citizens of New York. I want to thank Fire Commissioner Von Essen, Uniformed Firefighters Association President Gallagher and Labor Commissioner Hanley for their efforts in reaching this accord."
Several years ago, the Fire Department began a pilot program training Firefighters as Certified First Responders (CFR) and placing firehouse companies on-line to respond to emergency calls where use of CFR was appropriate. Due to the overwhelming success of the program, it was expanded Citywide and has resulted in the training of and performance by thousands of Firefighters in CFR life-saving measures. The differential was negotiated in recognition of the additional service being performed above and beyond the job requirement of a Firefighter.
The differential, which becomes effective upon ratification, will be paid by the tour for Firefighters whose company is on-line for CFR service. Since Firefighters perform nine (9) hour and fifteen (15) hour tours, the payment is an extra $7.43 and $12.38 per tour respectively. This amount comes to approximately $1500 per year. The payment will also be subject to future collective bargaining increases which means an increase on March 1, 1999 to $7.88 and $13.12 respectively. In addition, retroactive lump sums will be paid to those Firefighters who have been performing CFR over the last three years. Those who have performed CFR for the last three years will receive a lump sum of $900, the last two years, $600 and for the last year, $300.
The parties also decided upon the creation of a Labor Management Committee to discuss on-going issues related to the program. The Fire Department plans on training all Firefighters in ladder companies who have not received the CFR training. Certification will make them eligible for the differential when serving in companies that are on-line. The Fire Department also retained the right to detail Firefighters to other companies for the purpose of placing that company on-line.
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