Contracts In The News

JURISDICTION	THE MONEY	THE DETAILS
Austin, Texas Fire Department	• 2010 to 2012, 3% annually	• The new contract calls upon the Fire Chief to establish a hiring process for firefighter cadets and firefighters coming in from other departments.
Brick Township, New Jersey Police Department	• 2009 to 2011, 3.5% annually	• Under the new agreement, officers will pay 0.8% of their annual salaries toward the cost of health care premiums.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Police Department	• 2009, No increase • 2010, 4% • 2011, 3% • 2012 - 2013, To be determined	• As of July 1, 2010, veteran officers will no longer be required to live in the city. Effective January 1, 2012, all officers with five or more years of experience will be free to live outside the city. • The City will now pay health care claims directly instead of a per-employee annual lump sum. Co-pays will rise to $5 for generic prescriptions and $10 for most other medicines. Co-pays for doctor visits will be $10. • New hires will pay 6% of their salaries, up from 5%, for a traditional pension. Alternatively, new hires can voluntarily enroll in a hybrid plan that includes a 401(k)-type defined-contribution plan.
Rockford, Illinois Fire Department	• 2009 and 2010, No increase	• As a result of the new agreement, eight firefighters who were previously laid off will be recalled. • The contract has a reopener on wages for 2011 only. • Either party can give notice to reopen negotiations on or before December 1, 2010, and either party can invoke arbitration after December 15, 2010.
Simi Valley, California Police Department	• July 1, 2009, 3.43% decrease	• Under the new contract, which expires December 31, 2010, employees hired after January 1, 2010 are not eligible to receive retiree health insurance benefits, but rather will receive a contribution in the amount of $300 per month placed in a type of retiree health savings account.
Terre Haute, Indiana Fire Department	• January 1, 2010, No increase	• Under the new contract, all union firefighters will receive $143.75 annually in longevity pay – up from $115 annually under the previous agreement.