Orange and Union Reach Precedent-Setting Agreement to Rehire 12 Laid-Off Firefighters and Hire 12 Additional.

Statement by Mayor Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
“I am pleased to announce that the City of Orange Township has signed an agreement with the Orange Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 10 (FMBA) to rehire all 12 firefighters laid off in January and to hire 12 additional firefighters. This increases our firefighting force by 50% and brings our fire department closer to full strength.

This agreement can be a national model for how governments and public employee unions might work together in a recession when cities and states have less money to spend for the most important services.

Last year, knowing that layoffs were looming, we applied for a Federal SAFER grant from FEMA to fund the hiring of new firefighters. At the same time, we asked our unions for enough give backs to avoid layoffs by making up for Governor Christie’s cuts in state aid for Orange.  Without such givebacks, property taxes in Orange would have increased beyond a level that citizens could afford. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach an agreement by the January 7th deadline for layoffs.  Nonetheless, both sides continued talking in the hope of finding common ground.

This past week, we received a $1,238,623 grant from FEMA.  The grant by itself permitted Orange to hire 12 new firefighters. We continued to negotiate with the FMBA. On Friday, we reached an agreement for changes in work rules that will enable us to bring back the 12 laid off firefighters. The agreement protects taxpayers from a crushing tax increase. It makes all residents and businesses in Orange safer. It increases the on the job safety of firefighters, and it brings back those who have lost their jobs. The give backs include a 5 day salary deferral to be paid when an employee leaves the fire department; a give back of 55 hours of holiday pay; treatment of non-emergency overtime as comp time rather than paid in cash; and a ban on using comp time that would result in overtime payments.

What makes this agreement unique is that the city and the union cooperated to leverage the federal grant with work rule changes that in effect double the benefits of the federal money. This agreement would not have been possible without the firefighters union. I want to thank Elvin Padilla, the President of FMBA Local 10, Marvin T. Braker, Orange City Attorney and our Law Department, John Mason, Orange Business Administrator, my office staff and the members of Local 10. They were all essential to reaching this agreement. I also want to thank Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez as well as Congressman Donald M. Payne for pushing hard for the SAFER grant since last September.

We recognize that the SAFER is for two years only, but it buys our city the time we need to seek new revenues and management efficiencies that will enable us to keep the Orange Fire Department adequately staffed.”

Statement by Elvin Padilla, President of FMBA Local 10
“On Friday March 18, 2011, the Firefighters Union signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Hawkins Administration. The agreement outlined mutual give backs on both parties after what seemed to be an eternity since our rank and file was reduced by twelve firefighters.

We are at a loss for words by the fact that, in agreeing to give backs, we will add an additional twelve firefighters. This will bring our firefighting force from an all-time low of 32 to 56 firefighters courtesy of the Federal Government SAFER Grant that was awarded to Orange on March 11, 2011. The SAFER Grant is awarded annually to fire departments with staffing deficiencies. Because of this grant, once hired, the salaries and benefits of the new firefighters will be paid in full for two years.

Our membership, including the twelve rehires and the future twelve new hires, would like to express their sincere thanks to Mayor Eldridge Hawkins Jr., City Attorneys Marvin Braker, Joseph Wenzel and the FMBA Local 10 Negotiating Team Firefighters; Mathew Kohaut, Ruben Padilla, Roberto Perez, Scott Rothenberger, Robert Hillmann and myself. Tuesday March 20, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. will bring closure to a gloomy chapter for the Orange Firefighters. As we move on, we look forward to better and brighter days. Our goal during negotiations was always to fight for safe staffing levels, so we can provide the best fire protection to our citizens and all those who travel through the heart of the Oranges.”

Statement by Bill Dressel, Executive Director, N.J. League of Municipalities
"The agreement negotiated by Mayor Hawkins with the Orange firefighters is an example of how to achieve a "win- win" outcome for both taxpayers and labor in addressing the fiscal crisis confronting our communitites. What has transpired in the City of Orange and other communities is proof positive that we need more management tools from Trenton to help Mayors meet the quality of life needs of their communitites and be fair and equitable to their public work force."       

Statement by Robert Manganelli, Orange Fire Chief
“Thanks to the SAFER Grant and the cooperation between city officials and the union, Orange will bring back twelve(12) laid off firefighters and twelve new hires to my department. Due to tough economic
times this grant could not come at a better time. I applaud the union and the firefighters for sticking things out and continuing to give the City and its citizens protection with less manpower and fewer resources.

For too long we have been responding to fires with the bare minimum staffing and now we can return to a safer level of response. Bringing back twelve (12) firefighters and hiring twelve (12) new firefighters will enable us to put more fire apparatus on the street and more firefighters per apparatus. We will also be able to reopen the Washington Street Fire Station and we will return to a more normal schedule, decreasing our overtime budget.”

Statement by Marvin T. Braker, Orange City Attorney
“The negotiations were long and grueling. I wanted the unions to know that we were sensitive to the plight of those who had been laid off and that only frank and civil discussions would lead to an amicable resolution. We are looking forward to sitting down with our remaining unions.”

Copy of Agreement attached.