Firefighters approve pact that eventually eliminates pension pickups

3/8/2012

Toledo’s main firefighters union, Local 92, has narrowly approved a new contract agreement with the city.

Toledo City Council unanimously approved the deal Thursday afternoon.

Councilmen Lindsay Webb and Phil Copeland were absent.

The three-year contract would require firefighters to gradually take over payment of their pension obligations, which amount to 10 percent of their salary. The city currently makes that payment for them. In return for the elimination of that “pension pickup,” the city has agreed to pay firefighters affected by the change a one-time lump sum of $1,250 in 2012.

The contract also freezes wages until July, 2013. After that, the firefighters will receive a 2 percent pay increase, followed by an additional 3.5 percent wage increase in August, 2014.

Health insurance premiums, which have been pushed up for other bargaining units, will remain the same for the firefighters who will retain their own health and welfare trust fund.

This is a developing story.