Promotions, 'step‑up' pay and grievance timing become sticking points in contract talks

The association proposed explicit contract language to govern when firefighters who "assume" higher duties—such as driver or acting lieutenant—must receive additional pay, citing past grievances in which members sought compensation for assumed duties.

Union representatives told negotiators they want a contractual process to avoid repeated grievances. "If someone assumes those duties, why should he not get paid for that?" a union representative asked, citing a prior grievance award.

City negotiators resisted changing the current managerial authority vested in the fire chief, saying the existing contract and promotional lists already govern assignments and seniority considerations, and warned that a blanket change could create operational and liability problems if unqualified personnel are assigned above their certifications.

The parties also discussed proposed language mirroring a "knew or should have known" standard to limit stale grievances. The city argued such timeliness standards are common and mirror statutory limitation concepts; the union said the issue has not been a practical problem locally and cautioned against limiting members' grievance rights.

On callbacks and volunteer lists, the union asked for clearer rules on how lists are formulated and how seniority affects volunteer preference vs callback hooking; the city said it would provide clarified language and that some proposed changes would be a "big no" for managerial authority reasons.

Negotiators did not resolve these items and agreed to continue discussion in future sessions.