The Lehigh Acres Fire District has declared impasse with both IAFF 1826 District 6 and District 19 with respect to collective bargaining negotiations for the current fiscal year, said John Hament, a labor attorney today, Tuesday, April 6. District 19 (supervisory unit) negotiations is limited to wages and insurance, the only two reopeners permitted by the contract in this third and final year of the collective bargaining agreement, he said. District 6 (rank and file firefighter unit) negotiations is for a new successor contract to replace the former three year contract. All articles related to District 6 negotiations were open for bargaining.

The impasse was declared over both wages and insurance with District 19, Hament said in a letter to Fire Chief Don Adams. Impasse over several articles was declared with District 6, including wages, insurance, Paid Personal Leave, elimination of Kelly Days, holidays, physicals, seniority, work place policies and a few others.

The final position of the District as to some of the critical economic provisions at impasse include:15 percent pay cut and reduction of the District’s contribution for family/dependent insurance coverage for both units; elimination of holiday pay for District 6; elimination of Kelly Days coupled with a new overtime procedure to afford the District more staffing, thereby, permitting the District to open Station 105, for District 6; reduction of the amount of paid time off that an employee can count towards overtime for District 6, Hament wrote.

At the most recent negotiation sessions, the District negotiators emphasized that the District and union had profoundly different views on the economic condition facing the District. It was noted that the District did not feel it appropriate to rely exclusively on its reserves (which are typically for emergencies) to address the significant ongoing deficit problem.

It was also noted that neither the SAFER Grant, if awarded, nor any other funding source potentially available to the District can fully solve the overall economic situation of the District. It was also mentioned that the District and the union disagree about the District’s published adverse economic projections for the next few years it was stated that it is important for the District to be mindful of them and that the District should try to plan accordingly. Most importantly, and fundamentally, the District’s negotiators reminded the Union that the anticipated revenue on an annualized basis of the District is far less than the cost of operating the District, he said.

Finally, Hament said the District made it clear to the Union that it would be agreeable to continue bargaining, but only if they were ready to accept the District’s proposals or make material movement along the lines of the District’s proposals. In the mean time the impasse process will be pursued.