PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach has reached a tentative three-year agreement with the Long Beach Firefighters Association (FFA) to provide for salary increases and incentives aimed at improving workforce productivity and skill levels. The agreement also includes healthcare reform provisions that will provide long-term savings to the City and an economic uncertainties clause that allows the City to re-open the MOU if the City faces a fiscal hardship.

The City and FFA salary survey results indicated that the City ranked 10th in Firefighter salary compared to nine other regional Fire agencies. The salary survey included the following agencies: Anaheim, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles City and County, Orange County, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Torrance.

“Public safety continues to be the highest priority for the City of Long Beach, and Firefighters are providing lifesaving paramedic, emergency rescue, and firefighting services to Long Beach residents every day,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This tentative agreement provides our Firefighters with modest wage and skill pay increases consistent with recent raises provided to Police Officers. I want to thank the FFA leadership for working with the City’s negotiating team to develop an agreement that is fair and fiscally sensible.”

“We would like to thank the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager for their support,” said Rex Pritchard, FFA President. “The FFA bargaining team worked diligently with City representatives on reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. We believe this agreement represents fair wage increases for our hard working members.”

The tentative agreement includes the following major terms aimed at providing pay raises and having employees pay more for healthcare costs:

• Three-year contract term from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019;
• 3 percent general salary increase each year for a total of 9 percent increase over three years;
• Adjustments to certain skill pays. A summary of the skill pay changes is available online at: http://bit.ly/2nBgzHo. 
• Healthcare Reform provisions that help stabilize health benefit costs and provide long-term savings for the City.

The FFA represents approximately 350 sworn employees in ranks of Firefighter through Battalion Chief. In March, the FFA membership voted overwhelmingly to ratify the tentative agreement. The agreement will now go before the City Council for public discussion and final approval on April 18, 2017.

This agreement would have a total estimated annual net fiscal impact of $3.3 million in the General Fund in FY 17, and $7.2 million in the General Fund at the end of the three-year agreement.

Miscellaneous Bargaining Units and Unrepresented Employees

The City of Long Beach has also reached tentative three-year agreements with the following three miscellaneous bargaining units:

• Long Beach Association of Confidential Employees (LBACE)
• Long Beach Managers Association (LBMA) 
• City Prosecutors Association (CPA) 

The proposed successor MOUs with these bargaining units will also be presented at City Council on April 18, 2017.

The proposed compensation provisions are consistent with recent agreements reached with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The proposed MOUs include the following major provisions:

• Four-year contract term from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2019;
• 3 percent one-time lump sum payment for the first year; 
• 2 percent general salary increase for subsequent years for a total of 6 percent increase over four years;
• Reduction in Overtime Liability – Overtime will be calculated using the federal standard of hours worked only; and 
• Healthcare Reform and Economic Uncertainties provisions.

In addition, the Council will consider a resolution applying the same proposed salary and benefit terms to the unrepresented miscellaneous and management employees.

This salary adjustment for the miscellaneous groups and unrepresented employees would have a total estimated annual net fiscal impact of $0.8 million in the General Fund in FY 17, and $2.1 million in the General Fund at the end of the three-year agreement. Additionally, in FY 17, the one-time costs are estimated at $0.7 million in the General Fund.