Board of Aldermen Page 5
April 26, 2016
Last night there were comments comparing this contract to that of the Police Patrolmen’s and the police
supervisors relative to the high level of compensation negotiated with the firefignter’s contract. Let’s compare
those CBA’s. The police contract provides for three 2.5% increases over a three-year period beginning in FY
"16. Without compounding this equates to a 7.5% increase over the three years ending in FY °18. The
firefighter’s contract provides for an increase without compounding as well of 7.0% over four years beginning in
FY ’16; an average annual increase of 1.7%. The FY ’16 increase is set in the firefighter’s contract at 2.0% as
opposed to 2.5% which was awarded to the police. In FY ’17 the police will receive an additional 2.5% while
the firefighters will forego any increase. In FY ’18 the police will receive another 2.5% increase and should the
CBA be approved tonight the firefighters will also receive a comparable 2.5%. The firefighters contract
extends into FY ’19 and provides for an additional 2.5% increase. The contract for NPD will have expired and |
assume they will be in negotiations so it is not possible to estimate the equivalent for the police. It’s clear that
the CBA contains compensation increases but put less of a burden on the city and taxpayers. It’s fair to the
taxpayers and firefighters, particularly when the fairness of the police contract to the taxpayer is considered. |
urge you to pass the resolution and adopt the CBA that was negotiated with Nashua Fire Rescue.
Mr. John McCallister, 47A Williams Street
| am president of the Nashua Firefighters Local #789. | am here tonight to speak in favor and ask for your
votes for our CBA that is before you tonight. This agreement was negotiated fairly and with good intent by both
parties. We did take into consideration the fiscal hard times that the city is going through right now and we
took a 0% raise this coming year as of July 1*' with the best interest of the citizens in mind. The following two
years | think that those are reasonable with regard to the other contracts that have passed and! ask you guys
for your support tonight.
Deputy Chief Brian Rhodes, Nashua Fire Rescue
Chief Galipeau sends his regrets but even the fire chief answers to a higher power and a family vacation took
precedent.
Later on this evening you will be voting on your firefighters proposed labor agreement. This agreement is the
fruit of many months of negotiations and contains concessions that were agreed to by both the city and the
labor group. The administration as well as the labor group is keenly aware of our economic climate, not only
the employees of the city but a great many also are neighbors, taxpayers, coaches and volunteers who
consistently give back to our great city. I’m not here to raise this group on a pedestal or to compare them to
the hundreds of other dedicated city employees. This group of professionals is made up of ordinary individuals
who perform extraordinary acts on a daily basis. They are our city’s true first responders to emergencies large
and small. All divisions of NFR are constantly striving to achieve efficiencies with the ultimate goal of providing
our citizens with the most effective and cost effective service possible. This past month our mechanical
division saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars by completely rebuilding the rear suspension of one of our
ladder trucks that is 22 years old. Had it gone out to a private contractor it would have been thousands of
dollars more. Our fire alarm division, in addition to being the calming voice to those in need, maintains and
supervisors our municipal fire alarm system that protects over $1 billion dollars of assessed city property. Our
Fire Marshall’s office is extremely busy collaborating with developers and contractors who have and are
continuing to construct hundreds of new housing units and existing building up-fits for new commercial tenants.
For some this may be a difficult decision to support this agreement. All | ask is that you consider the difficult
task performed by your firefighters without hesitation on a daily basis before you cast your vote.
PETITIONS — None
