City of Live Oak and firefighters union in dispute

Live Oak ? The labor attorney for the city of Live Oak recently told city councilors that the city is operating within the confines of a current contract with the local firefighters union on how they receive sick pay.

?It?s my understanding having met with (City Administrator Joe Miranti) and members of the union that we are at a disagreement of how paid time off is to be administered,?? Attorney Robert Larkin III said. ?The contract reads a particular way, and that is the way we have been following it. It is the bargaining unit?s understanding that they should be accruing more leave than what is stated in the contract. Consequently, we?re at a stalemate as to what we can do.?

Live Oak Fire Chief Chad Croft said that about five to six years ago, the city changed policies and went to an hour-to-hour formula in which paid time off was distributed. Until the city council recently put a cap on the paid time off at 96 hours, the fire department employees did not realize there was a discrepancy in their hours. Prior to the cap, firefighters were given 10, 24-hour days of paid time off per year since firemen work 24 hour days. However, the cap caused them to lose six paid days off per year.

A typical fireman?s day is 24 hours of work. Other city employee days are eight hours. Discussion has been on whether to give the firemen the whole? 24 hours of sick time off or to give them eight hours of paid time. This, however, would bring a fireman 16 hours short of their typical paid day off, while a city employee would receive full compensation for their time off.

Council President Adam Prins asked Larkin, ?And your opinion is, as our labor attorney, that we are currently operating within the confines of the contract??

?Yes,? Larkin said.

Councilman Bennie Thomas asked Larkin what part of the contract is not being followed.

?I don?t know that any part of the contract is not being followed,? he said. ?It?s my understanding that the fire union believes the terms that they are operating under are being misunderstood or misconstrued. Evidently there was a misunderstanding between what they agreed to and what was contained in the written document that was signed.?

Larkin said the current contract can be renegotiated when it expires on Oct. 31.

?So unless the parties come to an agreement and wanted to do that, the council is under no obligation to do so,? said Larkin.?

Negotiations continue.

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Source: http://suwanneedemocrat.com/x36426261/City-of-Live-Oak-and-firefighters-union-in-dispute

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