Written by At tonight’s regular session of Marion City Council, the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 379 was approved.
Unlike in prior years, which were for three years, this contract was for one year and covers a term from 04/01/2026 to 03/31/2027.
Submitted to council by Mayor Collins and his Safety/Service Director Rob Cowell, this was the very first time that this agreement had been considered by council.
Councilman Aaron Rollins (R-At Large) briefly summarized the terms of the agreement–that is to say the changes from the current contract–which included:
1) 0% increase in salaries;
2) Maximized comp time. Increase from 400 hrs to 440 hrs;
3) Non-accumulative holidays increased by two;
4) An edit to the non-precedent-setting last chance agreement;
5) Three-year payout for retirement, at the sole discretion of the employee; and
6) Changes to the drug test policy. Switching from a urine test to a blood test.
Despite the fact that this was the first time that this agreement was posed to council, Councilman Aaron Rollins (R-At Large) was quick to make a motion to waive committee consideration. That vote was seconded by Ralph Smith (R-3rd Ward) and thirded by Shawn Barr (R-1st Ward).
After council voted unanimously to waive committee consideration, Councilman Rollins made a motion to to waive the standard three readings rule. That motion was seconded by Bill Dichtl (R-6th Ward) and subsequently approved by a 9-0 vote.
Councilman Rollins then made a motion to adopt the agreement and that too was unanimously approved by council.
Although this agreement–which was not made public prior to adoption–may have been solid, the Swamp Fox is disappointed that it wasn’t brought up weeks ago.
Fire Department personnel expenses represent one of the city’s largest expenses and ram-jamming a collective bargaining agreement through under an emergency basis—AFTER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT HAD EXPIRED–is not the best way to operate.
These things need to be discussed and given requisite thought.
The legislative process should be slow and deliberate, as a general rule.
Was this the very best agreement between the city and the union when it comes to the taxpayer?
Who knows? Maybe it was.
But maybe it wasn’t.
We’ll never know since it was rushed through at the last minute.
Check out the comments for more information on the fire department’s budget.