The Fact Finding report from Michael C. Ryan established several facts regarding the on-going Contract Negotiations. Unfortunately, a recent report released in the Media reported only some of the comments regarding COLA raises, Overtime and the use of Earned Time.
Please take a minute to review the actual comments quoted from the report. Also a link below will take you to the full report so you can read all of the Fact Finder’s recommendations.
· “In the seacoast area, the City ranks nearly at the
bottom for both starting and maximum pay for Firefighter
Basic EMTs and EMT-Is, exceeding only the much smaller
communities of Somersworth and Rye.” Pg 9
· “In the Portsmouth area in 2012, the average
firefighter salary trailed the average private- and public
sector wage by 21.3%. On average, experienced Portsmouth area
fire officers trail experienced Portsmouth-area police
superior officers by a whopping 27.5%.” 20.6% as amended. Pg 9
· “Similarly, although the City asserts Portsmouth
firefighters’ wages exceed those in other towns because of
Portsmouth’s incentive payments, the City’s data is
misleading…..”
· “The City’s assertion that Portsmouth firefighters’
compensation has kept pace with other towns because of
overtime earnings is absurd.” Pg 9
· “It is disingenuous for the City to use W2 figures to
illustrate the cost to the City of firefighters’ earnings.
Much of the overtime resulted from the Unions’ success in
obtaining state and federal funding for 40 hours of
training per course in advanced skills. Most members took
advantage of that opportunity, and the City was reimbursed
for those overtime costs.” Pg 10-11
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