Panel gives firefighters raises of at least 8.24% (HI / requires OK)

Both the Legislature and County Councils must OK the award

By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

State and county firefighters will get at least an 8.24 percent pay raise in the next two years under an arbitration award issued this month.

The award, issued March 15 from a three-member arbitration panel, gives the firefighters 2 percent pay increases every six months during a two-year contract starting July 1. The arbitration panel also included pay increases based on longevity for each rank, and $350-per-month incentive pay for firefighters assigned to desk jobs. <snip>

The employers and the union submitted the contract negotiations to binding arbitration last month after they were unable to agree to the terms of a new contract.

Under state collective-bargaining law, the state Legislature and all four County Councils need to approve the arbitration award to ratify the contract. If the state Legislature or any one of the County Councils rejects any cost item, the entire award is void. <snip>

http://starbulletin.com/2005/03/25/news/story3.html

goddamn corporate CEO's earn.

Call me a dreamer!