Text from Johnson to Firefighters’ Union President Could Ignite Stalled Contract Talks
A Breakthrough in Negotiations
Chicago firefighters and paramedics have waited three years and seven months for a new contract, but the marathon stalemate may be nearing its end. Negotiations are scheduled to resume Thursday on a new city proposal. The apparent breakthrough started with a text message from Mayor Brandon Johnson to Pat Cleary, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2.
A Chance Encounter
That text came not long after Cleary’s members responded to a Dec. 12 fire that started in a records storage area of Cook County Building. Knowing the fire had forced evacuation of the City Council chambers during a Council meeting, Cleary raced over to City Hall and used the opportunity to beat the media drum for a new contract. He got the mayor’s attention.
A Conversation with the Mayor
“He texted, ‘Yo! It’s Brandon. Give me a call.’ So, I called him,” Cleary said Wednesday. “He said, ‘How’s negotiations going?’ And I said, ‘What do you mean? It’s not going.’ I told him about the last time we had negotiations. The city was completely unprepared and had nothing to discuss. They had no authority to vote on anything. It was a complete waste of time.”
A New Proposal
Johnson promised to direct his negotiating team to expedite negotiations, telling Cleary he “wants them to get it done.” “Maybe he’s trying to make friends,” Cleary said. Johnson directed his negotiating team to draft a substantive proposal on the outstanding issues of pay, benefits, staffing, and equipment.
Outstanding Issues
Cleary wouldn’t reveal details of that latest proposal, which will be the subject of this week’s talks. The goal is to narrow to a handful the number of outstanding issues that must be decided by an independent arbitrator. Cleary made clear he would not settle for less than 20 more ambulances — in addition to the 80 currently on the street — and the paramedics to staff them.
Equipment and Staffing
Local 2 also demands a “cycle” of annual equipment purchases, including at least 10 engines, seven trucks, and six to eight ambulances. “Rigs are deplorable. We’ve had days when an engine or a truck broke down and they did not have a back-up engine or truck to give us. So those guys sat in the firehouse and did nothing all day and you pay for it,” Cleary said. “If there was a fire in that area, that engine did not go out because there was no engine.”
Staffing and Safety
Yet another thorny issue is the minimum staffing clause that triggered the 1980 firefighters strike. It requires each piece of fire apparatus to operate at least five employees, with some exceptions. Cleary wants to eliminate variances altogether.
Conclusion
The recent text message exchange between Mayor Johnson and Pat Cleary may mark a turning point in the long-standing contract dispute between the city and the firefighters’ union. With a new proposal on the table, the two sides will meet again to discuss the outstanding issues. Only time will tell if this latest development will lead to a successful resolution.
FAQs
What is the main issue in the contract dispute?
The main issue is the city’s proposal to reduce the number of firefighters on each piece of fire apparatus, which the union argues will compromise safety.
What is the “me too” clause?
The “me too” clause guarantees firefighters a pay raise at least as good as the pay raise for Chicago police officers.
What is the minimum staffing clause?
The minimum staffing clause requires each piece of fire apparatus to operate at least five employees, with some exceptions.
What is the union’s position on merit promotions?
The union wants to eliminate merit promotions with promotional testing for all ranks every four-to-five years.
