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Tampa's firefighters asking for too much

In print: Wednesday, August 20, 2008

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City of Tampa firefighters are well treated, well equipped and well paid — as they should be. They do dangerous work, and their professionalism shows in the wide variety of emergencies they are called on to answer, from fires and medical calls to incidents involving hazardous materials. But the pay raise they want is too high. It is out of touch with the current struggling economy and the prevailing public mood to curb government spending. Tampa's City Council, which takes up the issue Friday, should look at what's fair and reasonable.

The salary dispute ended in the council's lap after the mayor and the firefighters' union could not agree on a new contract. Mayor Pam Iorio has offered a 3 percent cost-of-living increase and 3.5 percent merit raises. The union wants 5 percent pay increases and merit raises of 5 percent annually. That amount is extreme.

Iorio's plan amounts to a 6.5 percent pay increase at a time when both public and private sector employees are lucky to have a job. In the last two years, the city has lost $28-million in property tax revenue and reduced its work force by 382 positions, thanks to a voter-mandated revenue cut, lower tax collections and a weak economy.

A special magistrate assigned to review the matter sided with Iorio. He said the union failed to make a case that Tampa's pay was subpar and added that the union was "unaware that there is a new era in government financing" — one where cities must learn to live within their means.

This is only the third time in 30 years that a pay dispute between the city and its firefighters has bounced to the City Council, reflecting the good working relationship the city and the union have had. Turnover at the fire department is low and nearly 180 applicants are waiting for a slot. Iorio has largely spared police and fire from the worst of the budget cuts. Even in a tight budget year, she has proposed to build a new fire station in New Tampa and to hire up to 36 additional firefighters in the next several years. But double-digit pay hikes are out of the question.

The City Council may be tempted to appease the politically powerful union, especially given that at least three of the seven members of council are interested in succeeding Iorio as mayor. But the next mayor will inherit the financial fallout of this deal — more reason the council should keep a level head.