ARLINGTON – The Arlington Fire District and the Arlington Professional
Firefighters Association have reached an agreement on a new contract,
which extends from September through December 31, 2021. It is subject
to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
The union is comprised of 69 members in different ranks ranging from firefighter,
to firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant, captain and similar roles.
The Board of Fire Commissioner, in a statement Monday, said the contract
will provide “substantial savings for the district throughout the
life of the contract and beyond, while insuring the continual safety of
all district residents and businesses.
”
Under the pact, firefighters will receive a two percent raise in each
calendar year of the agreement, the first of which will take effect as
of January 1 next year. In exchange the association made several givebacks
including agreeing to switch from its existing health insurance plan to
the New York State Health Insurance Program Empire Plan, beginning this
September 1. In connection with the switch, the district has agreed to
provide reimbursement through an HRA for each firefighter enrolled in
the state plan. The shift to the new program is expected to save the district
close to $500,000 in the first year of the contract, nearly enough to
fund the across-the-board wage increase for all five years of the contract.
With the current shortage of volunteers, the association and district
have agreed to several provisions to make paid firefighters and paramedics
available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Both paid and volunteer firefighters would respond to all calls; however,
should an individual require transportation to the hospital, which would
be provided by a qualified outside contractor.
That provision will also allow the district to reconfigure the assignment
of its current staff throughout the district so that paid firefighters
and paramedics will continue to be ready and available, during more hours
of the day, and in more areas of the district, to provide the emergency
services for which they were trained.
That reallocations will also help to reduce overtime costs, the district
said.
