Millions in Firefighter Overtime Still in Dispute as Elorza Touts New Contract

Millions in Firefighter Overtime Still in Dispute as Elorza Touts New Contract

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is claiming $15 million in savings over the next five years in his announcement of a newly negotiated contract with Providence Firefighters on Monday -- but refused to acknowledge the potential of over $9 million in overtime costs still in dispute, stemming from when Elorza changed the department from four platoons to three in 2015.

Elorza, who was joined by IAFF Local 799 President Paul Doughty and City Council members in his office on Monday, announced the proposed contract that would return the firefighters to a four platoon shift schedule, with a reduced minimum manning of 88 firefighters (the previous number had been 94 per shift). 

"Hell has frozen over," said Doughty at Monday's press conference, who in a statement said "today marks what the Providence Fire Fighters hope is a proposal that begins to address several significant issues facing both the city and the fire department."

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City Solicitor Jeff Dana however acknowledged that the city was still facing unresolved legal issues with the firefighters, including disputed overtime costs. 

"The overtime grievance and [Fair Labor Standards Act] lawsuit -- we will continue have mediation on those issues. This is a tentative agreement for a long term collective bargaining agreement," said Dana. "How to pay overtime is something that we are still discussing."

Finances, Tactics

City Councilman John Igliozzi, who is the Finance Committee chair, has recently raised issues that the fire department has already spent the nearly $2 million budgeted for overtime in Fiscal Year 2017. [The FY17 budget contains $5 million for contingency costs stemming from the ongoing legal battle.]

"If we're talking about the overtime value point -- the Internal Auditor had it at $9M four months ago," said Igliozzi. "That number's been since adjusted."

"We're going to presume there's some value point they'll agree to," continued Igliozzi of the continued legal battle.  "As for what that is, I think they will trifurcate the matter -- a portion in cash, a portion in future dollars, and a portion in severance pay. If there is a pretty big number that the city owes, you have to make it in increments in order for the city to handle such payments."

Igliozzi said that the Council, who just learned of the proposed contract which would be effective November 1, had to review the details.

"We need to know the justification of a five year contract -- that's a long term commitment," said Igliozzi. "Are there parity clauses, wage re-openers? I haven't even seen it yet."

City Council President Luis Aponte said Monday that he believes the tentative agreement on the new contract is an "important first step."

"This is a proposed five year contract," said Aponte. "We don't have a full set of details but it's an important first step and we look forward to hearing more and vetting the contract in the appropriate forum."

"This contract goes back to four platoons, and I believe it addresses wage reopeners," continued Aponte. "It addresses a variety of things but the second part is that there's still a couple of matters outstanding in the universal settlement -- but this a good first step."

Aponte spoke to the acrimony and turmoil between Providence firefighters and Elorza during the past year, as well as the unintended financial implications. 

"I think given all the turmoil, I think there was probably a better way to get at this, but what's in this contract, with the reduction in minimum manning, I think the end product gets us farther down the road where we need to be," said Aponte. "History will show if was worth the upheaval and labor unrest."