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MAFF Settles Contract for the Macomb Township Fire Fighters Association The MAFF recently successfully negotiated a Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Macomb Township Fire Fighters Association, which runs through June 20, 2008. Highlights of that contract include: - The probationary period has been reduced to 18 months
- A formal Stand-By-Call-In Procedure has been developed and agreed to.
- There are now mandatory tone-outs and minimum standby duty pay.
- Change in pay increments increased to 1/4 hour.
- An objective promotional procedure.
- Increased Life Insurance Benefits and improved Duty Uniform language has been added.
- 6 paid Holidays at time and one-half.
- Duty Uniform language to include $100 towards boots
- An increase in the Annual Bonus for Alarm Response from $250 to $1,500.
- Annual Officers pay: 14% increase for Captain, 27% increase for Lieutenant, 27% increase for Sergeant, and a 39% increase for Medical Training Officer, all beginning the first year of the contract.
The MAFF continues to seek improvements for this as well as other member departments. Northfield Township Fire Fighters Settle Contract MAFF represented the Northfield Township Fire Fighters in their recent contract negotiations and were able to settle on a 5-year contract. Mike O'Lear and Troy Scott represented the MAFF and were able to hammer out the following benefit improvements - A 10% raise over the life of the contract.
- A $100 signing bonus for every member.
- A $100 bonus for all current and future EMTs.
- All firefighters wishing to take EMT classes will have to cost paid for by the Township.
Al Sperle, President of the Northfield Township Fire Fighters Association credits the MAFF representatives for the new contract. "They were very professional and straight forward in how they pursued the Association's demands. No concessions were made and everybody is very happy with the outcome." Atlas Township Fire Fighters Settle Contract The patience of the Atlas township fire fighters was well rewarded when months of negotiations ended successfully with the issuance of an Act 312 award by Arbitrator Donald Burkholder. This is a first-time contract for the paid on-call Atlas fire fighters. This is the very first written agreement. The arbitrator awarded the Union all of the economic issues they were seeking. Issues: - Wages. Significant improvements of over $3,000.00 in the pay scale over the life of the agreement. Improvement in the stipends paid to the Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief positions. Full retroactively on wages.
- Guaranteed time-and-one-half for all hours worked on a designated holiday.
- A grievance procedure ending in binding arbitration.
- A formalized promotional procedure that levels the playing field for all persons competing for promotions.
Great start for a first time contract. MAFF never gave up and neither did the membership in the support of the Union. The employer counted on the membership and or the Union in giving up and not wanting to spend the money to fight. Big mistake, long hard fight but in the end the membership's perseverance paid off with a big win. The Township was counting on the membership giving in on their demands, and on MAFF not continuing with their fight. The Township was wrong on both parts. John Feldmann, lead negotiator for the Firefighters said: "We're happy we chose MAFF, and we believe we have the building blocks and foundation in place for future agreements." He attributes the success to the hard work of MAFF's representative, Joel Felt and Jim Thompson of the Firefighters who initiated the process on their behalf.
New IRS Rates for 2005 Mr. Scott Hallberg and the MAFF accountants, Calibre CPA Group, have made available the new rates for withholding taxes as well as limits for contributions into retirement accounts, such as qualified Deferred Compensation plans. This is good information for MAFF members to have in order to plan for retirement. You can visit the Calibre on-line at www.calibrecpa.com.
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