2014-03-24 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kurt Becker, 118 Sylvester Avenue Mr. Becker stated that on behalf of the University City Firefighters he was calling on Mayor Welsch as the top elected official, to display some type of leadership and insist that her fellow elected City Councilmembers cease and desist in their baseless, inappropriate and wholly inaccurate acts on University City’s first responders. He stated that he specifically wished to draw the Mayor’s attention to the duplicitous statements being made by Mr. Kraft, Mr. Glickert, and/or their supporters, to the residents of Wards 1 and 2. Mr. Beck stated that these statements allege that during the contract negotiations last year University City’s firefighters demanded a ten percent raise, and that the firefighters’ proposal could not be funded without a tax increase. He stated that these statements are fundamentally false and that the documents contained herein; which are also a matter of public record, very clearly demonstrate that the firefighters’ proposals in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 were highlighted by the following: 1. An affidavit signed unanimously by every member of the Fire Department waiving all cost of living adjustments for 2014 and 2015. 2. An approximate 40 percent increase from the length of time it took firefighters to reach top pay from their base salary. 3. A total cost of $62,184 for the Firefighters’ Plan in 2014, compared to $50,000 in 2014 for the City’s cost of living adjustment. 4. In 2014 the City’s plan increased the Fire Department’s payroll budget by two percent. The Firefighters’ Plan increased the budget by 2.42 percent; a difference of $11,888. Mr. Becker stated that 2.42 percent is a far cry from demanding a ten percent raise. The City’s team never offered a counter to the firefighters’ proposal. 5. A total cost of $64,000 compared to $51,000 in 2015, which was a projected cost of 2.44 percent for the Firefighters’ proposal. In 2014 and 2015 the total cost between those two years was less than 5 percent; nowhere near the 10 percent in one year being alleged by these City Councilmembers to their constituents. 6. Approximately 90 percent of the firefighters in St. Louis County must be paramedics in order to do their job, which is also the case in University City. University City has consistently been one of, if not the lowest paid fire departments in St. Louis County who requires their members to perform the same services that everyone else does. 7. The University City Fire Department has one of the highest turnover ratios in St. Louis County. On average, 10 to 20 percent of the firefighter staff left to serve elsewhere. Mr. Becker stated that the notion that the firefighters’ proposal could not be funded without a tax increase is fundamentally outrageous, and to put such statements out to the public is shameful. He stated that the $11,882 difference between the City’s proposal and the Firefighters’ proposal is a fraction of what the City has spent in legal fees because of their refusal to come back to the bargaining table. This case, which was initiated by the firefighters, is still ongoing. There is another hearing in front of the Court of Appeals on nd April 22, and inevitably it will end up in front of the Missouri Supreme Court. Mr. Becker stated that on behalf of the City’s first responders, he would implore the Mayor and her fellow City Councilmembers to check the facts before reporting them as truths to the residents of University City and members of the media. Alleging that University City’s Firefighters demanded a ten percent raise and that their proposals could not have fit into the budget without a tax increase is a baseless lie. Those perpetuating these lies are either being deliberately dishonest or are irresponsibly regurgitating lies told by others without doing even the slightest bit of research for their accuracy. Mr. Becker submitted his written comments to the City Clerk for inclusion in the public record.