Voters likely to decide firefighters’ insurance rates, pay increases and drug-testing policy
El Paso City Council agreed on election language to determine firefighters’ increased insurance rates.
The city and firefighter’s union haven’t been able to reach a new collective bargaining agreement since negotiations began in May 2014.
Tuesday afternoon, council was shown a detailed presentation about where the two sides disagree and how much firefighters could end up paying for health insurance. El Paso Association of Firefighters President Joe Tellez told ABC-7 how he feels about the process.
“It’s been long. Right now we’re in pretty much uncharted territory since this has never happened before, so we’ve had some tough lessons, Tellez said. “But I think we’re finally at a point we can move forward.”
The union’s proposal would raise insurance rates by 22 percent for the next three years. The city would like firefighter’s to pay 65 percent of what civilian employees pay for the rest of this year and next year, increase to 87.5 percent in 2017 and match the amount 100 percent in 2018 for the buy-up plan.
The union and city compared family plans today, since they say that’s what most firefighters are under. The difference between what the city wants firefighters to pay and the union’s proposal in 2018 is $326 for the buy-up family plan.
A yes vote favors the firefighter’s union proposal. A no vote favors the city’s proposal. Voters will also have a say on the size of the firefighters’ pay raises and their drug-testing policy. Election day is May 9.
