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Medford firefighters' contract provides 4.2 percent raise By MELISSA MARTIN Mail Tribune After nearly a year of negotiations, the city of Medford has signed a four-year contract with the Medford Firefighters Association Local 1431. The 60 employees at the city's five fire stations will receive a 4.2 percent pay increase retroactive to July, the month the contract expired. It will cost the city $172,800, about $28,800 more than budgeted. "It took a long time, but both sides worked together to come up with a mutual agreement," said firefighter Lance Gray, Local 1431 union president. Under the old contract, first-year firefighters made $34,476 a year. Under the new contract, they will make $38,964. Employees will get a regular pay increase in July, amounting to 2.5 percent. Next November, they will receive another increase based on what employees in eight comparable Oregon cities receive, minus the July increase, said Douglas Detling, human resources director. This formula will be used for the next four years. "This will bring them where they ought to be and keep them there - in the ballpark of what other agencies pay," Detling said. The city compares its fire department wages and benefits to those of Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Salem and Springfield. Senate Bill 750 requires cities to compare salaries with similar-sized departments across the state, not with other area fire districts or agencies. The contract also boosts wages for employees with more training. For example, certified paramedics get 5 percent more now and would receive 9.5 percent more in 2004. "There are more individuals moving up in the EMS levels," Gray said. "It is a stepping stone for the individuals in pay, and it also makes us a better fire department. We are able to give an increased level of care to the citizens." Fire crews must be certified to perform their jobs, Detling said. "They are highly specialized and highly trained and we believe they should be compensated for that," Detling said. The contract also calls for the city to pay $795 per month per employee for medical, dental and vision insurance until Dec. 31, 2002. If the cost goes above $795, employees will pay 3 percent of the total premium in 2003 and 4 percent in 2004. Currently, employees do not pay out of pocket for medical services. The city has a three-year contract with 116 police employees represented by the Teamsters. That contract expires June 30, 2004. There are seven bargaining units among the city's approximately 400 employees. Some 102 city employees are managers and not represented by a union. The city will begin bargaining in January with the Medford Municipal Employees Association, made up of 66 office staff, engineers, planners, building inspectors and others, Detling said. Their contract expires June 30. Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4497, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.