Next on the plate... Next on the plate... (June 30, 2004)

City firefighters have yet to sign contact
While the city settles a strike with its rank-and-file workers, the Palo Alto firefighters union have yet to negotiate an agreement for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The tranquility of those discussions is in stark contrast to last year, when the firefighters -- who are banned by law from striking -- made political noise and garnered criticism from council members for taking the issues to voters.

The union fought a city proposal to staff one seasonal fire station with full-time employees, rather than paying firefighters overtime. Later, the union opposed the re-election campaign of Councilwoman Dena Mossar (who supported the city's plan) and supported Councilwoman Nancy Lytle (who opposed it) and challenger LaDoris Cordell. Mossar and Cordell won; Lytle was defeated.

The fire union and the city only agreed on a one-year contract last year, with no raises, thus the need for more negotiations in 2004. Meetings have been ongoing, according to union and city officials.

"It's been very positive and moving forward and I'm optimistic that they'll finalize an agreement soon," said Tony Spitalari, head of the firefighters' union, on Friday. He declined to elaborate, citing an agreement not to publicly discuss the negotiations while they are still underway. City Manager Frank Benest was likewise optimistic on Monday, also without being specific.

An amendment to the city charter prevents Palo Alto's firefighters and police officers from going out on strike. It also requires labor negotiations that reach an impasse to undergo "binding arbitration." That means that a board of outside arbitrators resolves disputes.

The charter amendment was passed by Palo Alto voters in 1978, when a bitter 1975 strike of rank-and-file workers was still fresh in people's minds. --Bill D'Agostino and Cross Missakian

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