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Clinton council approves firefighter and AFSCME contracts, enacts temporary hiring freeze
Summary
Council adopted a three‑year contract with IAFF Local 609 and a five‑year AFSCME agreement, and passed a temporary suspension on hiring for general‑fund supported positions; the fire contract includes a 3% COLA and a 7%→9% insurance contribution change and preserves contractual step increases.
Clinton City Council on March 24 approved labor agreements with the city’s firefighter union and AFSCME unit and adopted a temporary suspension on hiring for general‑fund supported positions.
Council accepted a three‑year collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 609 covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. City negotiator Pat told the council the contract includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment in year one, a change to step spacing to reach a 5% gap between steps (implemented as a blended adjustment so the overall year‑one impact remained within council guidance), and an increase in the firefighters’ employee contribution for insurance from 7% to 9%.
Pat described additional non‑monetary language changes: clarifications on EMT pay and how per‑call payments are calculated, a defined clothing allowance, alignment of dental coverage with non‑bargaining employees, and FMLA conformity. He said the parties limited reopeners so the second and third years will focus on wages and insurance only, with one other non‑monetary article left for future labor‑management discussion.
Separately, the council adopted a five‑year wage agreement with AFSCME Local 888 that staff described as wages-only within council guidance (a schedule of increases that includes reopening provisions in later years). Both agreements were approved on roll call with union representatives present.
To help meet fiscal constraints, the council also adopted a resolution temporarily suspending hiring and replacement of general‑fund supported employees. The resolution preserves contractual step increases for bargaining units but freezes unscheduled non‑bargaining increases and directs staff to review partial‑funded or seasonal positions case-by-case.
Councilors described the labor agreements as negotiated in good faith and compatible with the city’s budget guidance; staff said implementation will require close monitoring of the general fund going forward.
