PoliticsEarly&Often recently published an article about the delayed back pay finally reaching Chicago firefighters under their newly signed contract. According to the report, retroactive paychecks, totaling somewhere between $40 million and $45 million, were sent out last Friday to 4,645 firefighters and paramedics—two weeks ahead of the deadline stipulated in their ratified contract. This means the long-standing phrase, "The check is in the mail," has now become a reality, more than two years after the previous contract had lapsed. These back payments cover salary, overtime, special pay, and pension contributions dating back to June 30, 2012, when the old agreement ended.
City officials have confirmed that no long-term borrowing was necessary to cover these expenses. Instead, Mayor Rahm Emanuel had already allocated funds in his 2013 budget to accommodate the anticipated retroactive costs. As reported by top aides, the payment will come from a combination of current cash reserves and potentially short-term borrowing that will be repaid gradually over the duration of the contract, which ends in 2017. They emphasized the importance of balancing these obligations with maintaining essential public services.
Under the new five-year contract, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians will receive an 11% wage increase spread across the term of the agreement. However, this comes at the cost of ending free healthcare benefits for retirees aged 55 to 65. Starting January 1st, those retiring during this age range will be required to contribute 2% of their pension income towards their health insurance premiums until they qualify for Medicare.
Additionally, all 15 of Chicago's basic-life-support ambulances are being upgraded to advanced-life-support status, enhancing emergency medical capabilities citywide. The 11% wage increase is essentially a minimum guarantee. If the Illinois General Assembly mandates a higher pension contribution rate than the existing 9.12%, the firefighters' union could negotiate for an even greater pay bump.
Mayor Emanuel achieved one notable concession regarding retiree healthcare costs, but he failed to secure other sought-after reforms like reducing holiday pay, adjusting duty-availability compensation, or restructuring pay grades. Despite these limitations, City Hall insiders described the deal as "vanilla" and aimed to foster a cooperative environment that might help address Chicago's looming pension crisis. By 2016, state law requires Chicago to contribute $550 million toward stabilizing its severely underfunded police and fire pension systems, which currently hold only 30% and 24% of their respective liabilities.
Thanks for sharing this, Dan! It's interesting to see how these negotiations play out amidst such financial challenges.
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