Measure A effort to end fire contract negotiations

The Anaheim Firefighters Association has qualified a measure for the November ballot that calls for impartial arbitration of labor disputes between the city and the Fire Department. The ballot measure is an effort to end more than two years of negotiations that have failed to produce a new contract. Measure A would amend the section of the City Charter that governs the city's personnel system to prohibit strikes and adopt a method of binding impartial arbitration when good faith negotiations do not result in an agreement. The measure calls for an arbitration board made up of three members one picked by the city, one picked by the employee organization and one agreed upon by both to settle differences. In a report released in August, Public Financial Management, Inc. a consulting firm hired by the city, concluded that the potential advantages of arbitration are a possible improvement in empl"by providing a viable avenue for labor to challenge contract disputes" and finality in the negotiation process. The disadvantages are that arbitration discourages good-faith negotiations, prevents elected officials from making final budget decisions, could cost between $100,000 to $200,000 per arbitration, increase salaries and wages and impacts terms of employment. According to David Hill, city human resources director, the city has made three contract proposals. The Firefighters Association has declined to vote or voted down all three proposals. Hill believes arbitration will not benefit either party. "I have of faith in collective bargaining. It is not in the long-term interest of either party to have someone impose a contract on them," Hill said. Hill also believes that arbitration places negotiations in the hands of people with no accountability to the voters. "It is in the public interest to have elected officials represent them and to hold the accountable. To have arbitrators spend public funds is not in the public interest," he said. But Anaheim Firefighters Association president Richard Chavez said he is willing to risk being unhappy with the results. "Arbitrators look at what's fair. They look at the municipalit's ability to pay and the job market. To drag out negotiations for over two years and work without a contract is unfair," Chavez said. He cites the city's use of arbitration in rights disputes as an example of how the process already works in Anaheim. "Firefighters are very involved in the community. We wouldn't do anything (such as strike) to jeopardize the community," he said. Since striking would endanger the public, Chavez feels arbitration would be the best tool for the association in its negotiations with the city.