Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by EngineLadder on January 22, 2010 at 12:03am

good for them, are you a jealous a volly?

Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on January 22, 2010 at 12:25am

Way good for them. Are you an arrogant paid guy?

Permalink Reply by Dennis Hiscock on January 22, 2010 at 6:23am

Im not jealous nor am I arrogant...

Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on January 22, 2010 at 10:49am

Pretty much.

Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on January 22, 2010 at 12:01pm

Kevin Breen, the city's director of human resources, said the ruling would cost the city about $3.2 million, already set aside in anticipation that the arbitrator would rule in favour of the firefighters.

The problem with such articles, the lack of substantial info, can be easily assumed that this was a money issue only. We don't really know all the details going in, what was done during negotiations, what was the sticking point to go to arbitration etc. This settlement goes back to 2007, so the FFs have essentially been working without a contract since then.

Now the highlighted portion states the city set aside money in ANTICIPATION of losing the arbitration, leads me to wonder why they couldn't settle the contract before. Makes me wonder what excuses the city was using as to not settle. While this article leads a reader to feel the FF's are now receiving a windfall, what wasn't the city letting the taxpayer in on? Was the city, like many who made cuts, say that "this is a tough budget year" and look for more and more concessions, yet really weren't in such a "tough situation" or were they taking a gamble to get out of paying a raise?