Providence Firefighters’ Raise Could Trigger Millions in Raises for Teachers
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Providence Firefighters’ Raise Could Trigger Millions in Raises for Teachers
The new three-year teachers' contract language stipulates that if other municipal unions receive more than a 1% raise during the years of the contract, that teachers would get that same amount -- as a firefighters are being tapped to get as high as a 5% increase, due to potential changes in their work schedules if a platoon change shift moves forward.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"What we don't know what the extent of the potential impact, and how to avoid the trigger," said City Council President Luis Aponte on Thursday. "For us it's an issue, as the [teachers] contract has not been ratified by the Council."
Teachers salaries account for over $170 million in spending by the city, with the Internal auditor's latest projections, which were from Fiscal Year 2015 through Fiscal Year 2017, ranging between $172 million and $174 million.
City Council finance chair John Igliozzi, head of the committee where the contract is currently pending, did not respond to request for comment.
Contract Language Clarification Sought
The language of the teacher's contract says that "In the event that the city agrees to any collective bargaining agreement or stipulated interest arbitration to a General Wage Increase for City employees in excess of one percent (1%) for Fiscal Year 2016 then all members of Local 958, including those who have retired in Fiscal Year 2016, shall be entitled to the same wage increases. The parties agree that this provision shall not apply to awards established by an interest arbitration panel and/or arbitration awards for City and School as a result of contested arbitration hearing."
Providence firefighters are slated to get a previously negotiated raise of 3% this year, but in light of the proposed platoon change from four to three -- which was opposed by the firefighters and has seen a retirement rate of four times the usual annual amount -- the city has indicated that a pay raise would be on the table.
"The administration offered 5%, so there's the potential for a lot of money to be at stake," said Aponte. "We need to figure out what that means. I've talked with [Internal Auditor Matt Clarkin]."
Providence Teachers Union president Maribeth Calabro, when asked if the clause was put in the contract to put teachers on par with other unions - and whether she expected an increase if the firefighters got one -- said "yes" and "yes."
Negotiations, Next Steps
Aponte noted that the city is currently in negotiations with the municipal employees' union Local 1033, which "could have ramifications" as well.
"The city has extended its platoon shift plan until August 1, so we'll see what happens," said Aponte. "The City also has 1033 to work out at this time as well."
Clarkin said on Thursday that he is planning on talking with the Chief Financial Officer of the school department next week.
"I want to have a general conversation," said Clarkin. "Just to talk about what this could mean."
Firefighter union president Paul Doughty declined to comment on Thursday.
Active Fire Fighters Making Over $100K
63.
Name: John Romano
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,284.45
62.
Name: Timothy Gingell
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,310.16
61.
Robert Barrett Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,431.68
60.
Name: Tim Whalen
Job Description: Air Supply Technician
Total: $100,459.35
59.
Name: Rocco Sauro
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $100,788.66
58.
Name: Matthew Randall
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $101,257.61
57.
Name: Robert Jackson
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $101,533.24
56.
Name: Garrison Roun
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $103,287.08
55.
Name: Jason White
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $103,451.16
54.
Name: Robert Randle
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $104,221.73
53.
Name: Joseph Vingi Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $104,299.27
52.
Name: Stephen Capracotta
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $104,762.46
51.
Name: Jason Houle
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $104,802.19
50.
Name: Kevin Bross
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $105,201.83
49.
Name: Joseph Dillon
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $105,294.56
48.
Name: Michael Bates
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $105,308.71
47.
Name: Peter McMichael
Job Description: Fire Prevention Captain
Total: $106,310.09
46.
Name: Daniel Rinaldi
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $106,665.69
45.
Name: Kenneth Prew
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $106,780.96
44.
Name: James Taylor
Job Description: Chief of Communications (Fire)
Total: $106,787.65
43.
Name: Joseph Fontaine
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $107,737.39
42.
Name: Scott Shangraw
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $109,366.95
41.
Name: Kenneth Cirelli
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $109,704.81
40.
Name: Stephen Houle
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $109,753.32
39.
Name: Sean Reddy
Job Description: Firefighter Car 79
Total: $109,873.05
38.
Name: Heidi Rivard
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $111,434.29
37.
Name: Dennis Tucker
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $111,456.06
36.
Name: Vincent Clements
Job Description: Dispatcher Lieutenant
Total: $111,497.41
35.
Name: John Healey Jr.
Job Description: Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $111,715.94
34.
Name: Kevin Dolan
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $112,870.75
33.
Name: David Plante
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $113,559.71
32.
Name: Michael Peck Jr.
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $113,686.14
31.
Name: John Hannon
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $113,746.06
30.
Name: Stephen Siravo
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $114,029.68
29.
Name: Kenneth Bager
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $114,181.03
28.
Name: Joseph Misto Jr.
Job Description: Dispatcher Lieutenant
Total: $114,469.25
27.
Name: Dennis Vecchiarino
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $115,463.24
26.
Name: Kristopher Wright
Job Description: Firefighter
Total: $115,583.06
25.
Name: Jeffrey Gallo
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $116,343.31
24.
Name: Paul Picozzi
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $117,054.02
23.
Name: Michael O'Toole
Job Description: Chief of Operations/Fire Dept
Total: $117,371.94
22.
Name: Kenneth Rainone
Job Description: Acting Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $118,216.87
21.
Name: Paul Doughty
Job Description: Firefighter Car 79
Total: $119,162.01
20.
Name: Thomas Miller
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $121,031.48
19.
Name: Scott Mello
Job Description: Assistant Fire Chief
Total: $122,100.94
18.
Name: Kevin Jutras
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $122,219.25
17.
Name: Brian Mahoney
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $122,257.14
16.
Name: John Devlin Jr.
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $122,648.91
15.
Name: Antiliano Estrella
Job Description: Fire Lieutenant
Total: $123,571.77
14.
Name: Andrea Stukus
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $127,048.46
13.
Name: David Palumbo
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $127,059.23
12.
Name: J.J. Varone
Job Description: Fire Battalion Chief
Total: $133,385.1
11.
Name: David Soscia
Job Description: Acting Deputy Asst. Chief
Total: $134,671
10.
Name: William Kenyon
Job Description: Acting Deputy Asst. Chief
Total: $134,914.97
9.
Name: William Lynch
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $135,550.58
8.
Name: Christopher Brochu
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $137,698.67
7.
Name: Peter Tagliaferri
Job Description: Fire Rescue Lieutenant
Total: $138,730.29
6.
Name: Thomas Cassin
Job Description: Fire Captain
Total: $139,499.51
5.
Name: Joseph Desmarais
Job Description: Deputy Ass'T Fire Chief
Total: $147,588.93
4.
Name: James Mirza
Job Description: Deputy Ass'T Fire Chief
Total: $153,163.4
3.
Name: Clarence Cunha
Job Description: Fire Chief
Total: $154,609.65
2.
Name: Zachariah Kenyon
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $161,117.57
1.
Name: Vincet D'Ambra
Job Description: Fire Rescue Captain
Total: $188,734.29
