Geneva firefighters willing to cut raise

Full-time Geneva firefighters are giving up half of their next pay raise in exchange for a promise they won't be laid off, as the city looks to trim its 2009-10 budget.

The city council Monday will consider a side letter of agreement with International Association of Firefighters Local 4287, and is expected to then vote on the matter.

The 18 covered firefighters were due to receive base-rate raises of 4 percent May 1. Instead, they would get 2 percent. In turn, the city won't lay any of them off during fiscal year 2009-10, which begins May 1.

"I give them a lot of credit ... they were willing to look at it and work with us," assistant city administrator Stefanie Dawkins said. She estimated it will save about $25,000.

The firefighters' contract expires in 2011. The base pay is due to go up 3.75 percent in 2010 and 2011. The contract does not cover the paid-on-call firefighters.

The city is also negotiating with unionized workers in the electrical division to see if they would forego a raise.

The electrical workers' contract expires in 2012. It calls for base pay increases of 4 percent in 2009-10, then 3.5 percent the next two years.