Firefighter paramedic union contract issues goes to vote

Although a labor contract was signed this year, Ocean City voters will decide on Nov. 8, 2018 whether the local firefighter/paramedic union should be able to turn to binding interest arbitration when contract negotiations reach an impasse.

On March 2, the International Association of Fire Fighters turned in a petition to put binding interest arbitration on the ballot, thus allowing voters to decide whether an independent arbitrator could settle labor disputes between the city and the union.

Less than two weeks later, the City Council and the fire union signed a deal that included the contentious new schedule that both parties battled over in 2016. That impasse inspired local union President Ryan Whittington and other members to launch the petition.

The schedule implemented in November included two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour night shifts, followed by four days off. That replaced the longstanding practice of 24 hours on, 72 hours off.

Union members also received a $50,000 bonus on Oct. 1, to offset any costs of switching to the new shift. On average, the bonus breaks down to $1,282 per employee. Employees were also eligible for a short time to enter the city’s deferred retirement option plan, which is eligible for employees that had earned 25 years of service for pension benefits.

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