By David Fleet
Editor
Atlas Twp.- About 30 paid-on-call township firefighters will receive a 2.7 percent cost-of-living index adjustment despite the adjustment being nixed last year as part of the union contract.
The board voted 5-0 to approve the adjustment, however, several trustees questioned whether the cost-of-living pay should have been authorized.
Township Fire Chief Fred Forys presented the issue at the township board of trustees meeting on Tuesday night. The adjustment will cost about $2,000, added Forys.
‘The money was budgeted for the cost-of -living adjustment,? said Forys. ‘It was my understanding, and I informed the firefighters that if they voted to decertify the union, that their pay would not change.?
The on-call firefighters receive $15 per call and the pay is adjusted by the cost-of-living index at the end of each year.
‘While I support the township firefighters, I’m concerned,? said Scott Statson, township trustee.
‘We can’t fix what happened. But if there was an issue, it should have been brought to the board. You don’t just neglect them, that’s not how we do business.?
On April 24, township paid-on-call firefighters voted to decertify their association with the Michigan Firefighters Association, ending the contract on June 30, 2009.
According to the Employment Relations Commission Labor Relations Division, a vote was conducted and supervised by the township, resulting in five votes to stay with the MFFA and 18 votes to decertify their association.
Several paid-on call firefighters reported they could not make enough money to afford the union dues, which were about $30 per month. Union officials said the fees are required to negotiate or enforce a labor contract’in the event an issue arises the union would bear the costs of the litigation.
‘Before there is a promise to pay, the amount needs to be discussed with this board,? said Shirley Kautman-Jones, township supervisor. ‘While the contract had expired, we can honor the amount for now’in the future there needs to be negotiation.?