Buffalo Common Council members approved the first contract with city firefighters in 11 years Tuesday afternoon, making some big changes in the way the department runs.The pact provides significant raises retroactive to July of 2012, but nothing before that. The deal, which runs through 2017, installs a residency requirement for new hires and a requirement they stay city residents for their careers. The city gets more management tools, especially controls on time off to ease pressure for overtime.
The deal has already been approved by union members and the city's control board.
Commissioner Garnell Whitfield says it's a good deal for the department.
"This means everything to the department. We have an agreement in place the likes of which we have not had for the past ten years. This means that the men and women of this department have a commitment from the city and the city has a commitment from the members of this department," Whitfield says.
Whitfield and his thee deputies all get significant raises in the deal.
With the mayor planning a new training class for new firefighters, they will have to spend more time in the field before they hit the top pay grade.
Council Majority Leader Demone Smith says approving the deal took time.
"I'm glad that everybody was able to come together and put together an agreement that everybody can live with," Smith says.
Union President Dan Cunningham says it's good to finally get a new contract, but he says it doesn't provide good relations with the city.
"This is a contract that we have to live with," says Cunningham. "We have some stability going forward to 2017. I wouldn't say this is a great contract for us and I wouldn't say it's a great contract for the city."
"The men and women of the Buffalo firefighters received no back pay. [They] took five zeros to get to this agreement," he adds.
