Geneva firefighters, electrical workers agree to pay concessions

Geneva’s firefighters and electrical department workers have again agreed to pay concessions in exchange for guarantees of no layoffs for at least a year.

The city council will vote Monday on agreements with International Association of Firefighters Local 4287 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 196.

The agreements amend existing contracts.

The 17 firefighters were due to receive raises of 3.75 percent May 1. Instead, they will receive 2 percent raises. Firefighters due to retire in the 2011-12 fiscal year or those receiving disability pay would still get the full 3.75 percent.

The contract, signed in 2008, expires in April 2012. This is the second time such a deal has been struck. They agreed to one in 2009.

The electrical workers have agreed to take four unpaid furlough days, the equivalent of 1.5 percent less pay.

Their five-year contract also expires in April 2012. It covers a dozen workers.

This is the second year in a row the electrical workers have agreed to furlough days.

City officials asked for the concessions as they prepared the 2011-12 budget. The council will also vote on the budget Monday night.

There have been voluntary furlough days for non-unionized city employees as the city struggled the last three years with reduced sales tax and other revenue. Pay raises for non-unionized employees have been limited to a maximum of 2 percent, and based on individual merit.