PREAMBLE
This
Agreement is made and entered into by and between Lockwood Rural Fire District
#8, hereinafter referred to as "Employer", and Local 3658,
International Association of Fire Fighters, hereinafter referred to as the
"Union", for the purpose of promoting and improving understanding
between the Employer and the "Union", relative to: a means of
amicable and equitable adjustment of differences or grievances which may arise
during the term of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 1 – RECOGNITION
The
Employer recognizes the
ARTICLE II - GRIEVANCE AND
ARBITRATION PROCEDURE
A. Grievance Defined: A dispute, or a difference
in interpretation between an employee, or the
B. For purposes of this Article, persons
authorized to represent the
C. Unless mutually waived by both parties,
departure from the established procedure:
1. By the Union or any person represented by the
2. By the Employer shall automatically place the
grievance in the next step of the procedure.
D. Procedure:
STEP
1. The
a. The name of the grievant(s).
b. The Date(s) of the grievance.
c. The nature of the grievance.
d. The adjustment sought.
The Fire Chief shall attempt to resolve the grievance and
issue the adjustment in writing to the Union within five (5) business days of
receipt of the grievance from the
If the grievance remains unresolved, the
STEP 2. Within ten
(10) business days of the Fire Chief's reply, the Union shall present the
written grievance, along with the
If
the grievance remains unresolved, the
STEP
3. Within ten (10) business days of the
Chairman of the Board's reply the
Selection
of an arbitrator shall be conducted as follows:
The
Board of Arbitration shall be composed of three (3) members: one person to be
appointed by each party and a third, acting as Chairman, to be selected in
accordance with sub-paragraph 1 and 2 of STEP 3. The Employer and the
1. Within ten (10) business days of the receipt
of the request, the parties to this Agreement shall mutually select a person
who is not employed by Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 to act as Chairman. If
no such person can be found who is acceptable to act as chairman by both
parties:
2. Within ten (10) additional business days the
party requesting arbitration shall request the Montana Department of Labor and
Industry, Board of Personnel Appeals, to provide a list of five (5)
arbitrators.
The
parties shall select the Chairman by the method of alternately striking names,
with the parties flipping a coin to determine who strikes the first name The
final name left on the list shall be the Chairman.
Within
five (5) business days of the selection, the Chairman shall be contacted in
writing and requested to schedule proceedings at the earliest possible date.
During the arbitration proceedings, all evidence shall be presented to the
Board. The Board of Arbitration shall have no power to alter in any way the
terms of this Agreement, state law, or federal law. The Board of arbitration
shall issue its decision within thirty
(30) business days after the conclusion of the proceedings,
including filing of briefs, if any.
E. The use of the above procedure is exclusive,
and shall constitute a waiver of recourse through any other procedure, except for
recognized civil procedures.
F. "Business days" means all calendar
days except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
ARTICLE
A. Layoffs
Layoffs or reductions in force shall be in order of seniority
within the Lockwood Rural Fire District #8. The last hired employee shall be
the first released in all such actions. All recalls to employment shall
likewise be in order of seniority; that is, the last employee released as a
result of a reduction in force, shall be the first rehired when the Employer
needs additional employees.
It is the employee's responsibility to maintain a current
mailing address and telephone number on file with the Fire Chief, or his
designee.
All reductions in force and recalls to employment shall be
provided in writing to the affected employee at least fourteen (14) calendar
days in advance of such action.
All recalls to employment must be served by registered mail
with the United States Postal Service.
B. Union Bulletin Board
The Employer shall provide suitable space for a Union
bulletin board. Only matters of official business of the
C. Physical Examinations
A physical examination, including pulmonary screening, shall
be required by the Employer semi-annually for purpose of certifying an
employee's eligibility for continuing employment and an annual physical to meet
the haz-mat requirements as per OSHA. For employees forty (40) years of age, or
older, a PSA test shall also be provided annually. All employees shall be required to schedule a
physical examination with the Employer's physician. The limits of
responsibility to the Employer for any deficiencies found will be those limits
stated in the Health Insurance policy.
D. Vaccinations
The Employer shall provide at no cost to the employees
vaccinations for Hepatitis B, including clinical tests for purposes of
determining the effectiveness of the inoculations. Additionally, a test for
exposure to Tuberculosis shall be provided by the Employer annually.
E. Just Cause
No employee shall be disciplined, suspended, or dismissed,
except for justifiable cause.
F. Disciplinary Procedures
1. Employees may be disciplined or discharged
for just cause. Discipline should be applied at progressive and escalating
levels to allow the employee proper notice of misconduct and an opportunity to
improve performance. The level or degree of discipline imposed shall be
appropriately based on the employee's prior record of service, length of service,
severity of offense, and prior record of discipline.
2. Disciplinary actions or measures shall
include only the following:
a. verbal counseling,
b. written reprimand,
c. suspension without pay,
d. reduction in rank, and
e. discharge.
3. Prior to the imposition of any discipline or
discharge, the employee shall be provided a copy of the alleged violation and
all relevant documents the Employer has in their possession. In addition, the Employer shall hold a pre-disciplinary
hearing no sooner than ten (10) days from the time the employee was notified of
the alleged violation. At this hearing the employee will be given an
opportunity to present his side of the issue.
4. The employee shall be entitled to have union
and/or legal representation present at any meeting held with the Employer to
discuss potential disciplinary action against him.
5. The Employer may suspend an employee with pay
pending the final decision as to the appropriate discipline resulting from the
pre-disciplinary hearing.
6. The employee and the employee's Union
representative with the employee's authorization shall have the right to
inspect the full contents of his/her personnel file. No written reprimand or
greater disciplinary document may be placed in the personnel file without the
employee having been first notified of said complaint and given a copy, with a
copy to the
document.
7. The written reprimands will be removed from
an employee's personnel file after three hundred sixty five (365) days from the
date said action was finalized. If another written reprimand has been issued
within this time period, both written reprimands shall remain in the personnel
file for an additional three hundred sixty five (365) days from the date of the
latest written reprimand.
8. It is the Employer's sole determination as to
whether or not an employee suspended without pay may be allowed to forfeit
accrued vacation or compensatory time in lieu of the suspension of pay.
G. Visits by Union Representatives
Accredited representatives of the International Association
of Fire Fighters, and the Montana State Council of Professional Fire Fighters
shall have full and free access to the premises of the Employer at all times
subject to approval of the Fire Chief, or his designee.
H. Job Posting
The Employer shall post written notice on Union bulletin
boards of all positions within the department for which vacancies for promotion
or assignment exist. Such job posting shall be promulgated at least fourteen
(14) calendar days in advance of any promotion or assignment.
I. Promotional Procedure
1. Fire Fighter 1:
All
employees of Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 who have completed the NFPA
standards for Fire Fighter 1 and satisfied the initial employment probationary
period shall be classified as Fire Fighter 1.
2. Fire Fighter 2:
All
Fire Fighter l's who have completed a minimum of eighteen (18) months of
continuous satisfactory service with Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 as a full
time, full paid fire fighter and have been departmentally certified as having
completed the NFPA standard for Fire Fighter 2, shall be compensated at the
Fire Fighter 2 rate of pay upon the completion of eighteen (18) months of
continuous satisfactory service.
3. Engineer:
Fire Fighter 2's who have been continuously employed by
Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 as a full time, full paid Fire Fighter 2 for
three (3) years are eligible for promotion to the rank of Engineer. Applicants
for promotion to Engineer must have completed IFSTA manuals for Water Supply
and Apparatus, a Lockwood equivalency test for Fire Streams, and satisfied a
driving and pumping practical test administered by the Training Officer and one
(1) member of the Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 appointed by the Fire Chief.
The senior Fire Fighter 2 who has satisfied all promotional
qualifications shall be promoted to the vacancy, subject to approval of the
Fire Chief and the Board of Trustees. Promotion to the rank of Engineer shall
be as vacancy occurs.
4. Captain:
a. Applicants for promotion to Captain must have
completed six (6) years of continuous employment with Lockwood Rural Fire
District #8 as a full time, full paid fire fighter, completed the
qualifications for Fire Fighter 2, and have served as Engineer with Lockwood
Rural Fire District #8 for a minimum of three (3) years.
In
addition, applicants for promotion to Captain must possess a passing
score
on the IFSTA manual test for Company Officer, and Inspections.
Applicants
for promotion to Captain shall also possess certification under
DNRC
S-220 or IMS (Incident Management System).
b. Applicants for promotion to Captain must
attain a minimum score of 70% on a promotional test administered by a neutral
testing agency. Applicants who attain a passing score on the promotional test
shall retain eligibility for promotion for four (4) years. An individuals test
score shall be added to the scores stipulated in section 4., C., 1.. 2.,
of this promotional procedure.
c. Promotional Board - Captain
A
promotional board consisting of two (2) members appointed by the Union, and the
Chief of the Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 and one (1) member appointed by
the Employer shall assess each candidate for promotion to Captain by awardin9
promotional points as follows:
1. 0 - 10
Points..................Seniority
Applicants
shall receive on (1) point for each year of full time employment with Lockwood
Rural Fire District #8. A maximum of ten (10) points for seniority can be
awarded.
2. 0
- 40 Points...................Performance Evaluation
The
promotional board shall rate each candidate's work performance in the following
areas:
(a) Leadership 0-10
Points
(b) Interpersonal
Communications 0-10
Points
(c) Knowledge
of Fire District 0-10
Points
(d) District
Policies Rules and Regulations 0-10
Points
The
composite score if each candidate for promotion to Captain shall be derived by
adding the promotional test score to the scores attained in the work
performance evaluation.
The
candidate with the highest composite score shall be promoted to the rank of
Captain. In the event of a tie, the senior employee shall be promoted.
d. General Conditions
Promotion to Fire Fighter 1, and Fire Fighter 2, shall
become effective upon the date the employee satisfies the qualifications and
time constraints for the positions.
Fire Fighter 2 personnel who have successfully completed the
IFSTA manuals and testing required to be promoted to the rank of Engineer are
eligible to act up to the rank of Engineer.
Engineer's who have successfully completed the IFSTA manuals
and DNRC S-220 or IMS course required to be promoted to the rank of Captain are
eligible to act up to the rank of Captain.
Promotions to Engineer and Captain shall be made
expeditiously, and as vacancy occurs. For purposes of explanation,
"expeditiously" means within thirty (30) Calendar days of the
vacancy.
The written test for promotion to Captain shall be offered
by a neutral testing agency in January, and June of each year. Personnel who
have attained a passing score of 70% or higher shall have satisfied the testing
requirement for promotion to Captain for four (4) years.
The Fire Chief shall issue written notice in January of each
year listing the name of personnel who have a current passing test score on
record with Lockwood Rural Fire District #8. Such written notice shall include
the effective dates of the individual's written test.
In the event there are insufficient personnel meeting the
necessary requirements to fill promotional vacancies, selected requirements may
be waived by mutual agreement between the
All
promotions shall become permanent upon completion of a six (6) month
probationary period.
e. Grandfather Provision
Ratification
of this Agreement, and Promotional Procedure herein, shall not affect the
current rank held by members of the
J. Off-duty Public Education and Training
Employees assigned public education duties or training
during their off-duty hours shall be compensated at one and one-half (1 1/2)
times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours so assigned. Such
compensation shall be paid for a minimum of two (2) hours.
K. Clothing Allowance
The Employer shall provide all employees the following
uniform items which will be replaced as needed:
Two
(2) badges
Two
(2) name tags
One
(1) uniform coat
Three
(3) uniform shirts
Required
shoulder patches
Three
(3) pairs of uniform trousers
One
(1) pair of uniform boots or shoes
Four
(4) pairs of uniform coveralls (for the Maintenance Technician)
All protective clothing shall be provided to each employee
at no cost to the employee or the
L. Shift Trading
Subject to review by the Fire Chief or his designee, any
employee may exchange shifts or trade time with any qualified employee. When an
employee is absent from work under shift trading procedures, no other employee
shall be paid higher classification pay or overtime as a result of the shift
trade.
M. Non-Discrimination
The Employer and the Union accept their responsibility to
ensure nondiscrimination in all aspects of employment for all qualified
persons regardless of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age,
mental and physical disability, sex, marital status, family relationships,
membership or non-membership in the
N. Dues Assignment
The Employer shall honor the employee's voluntary written
assignment designating a specified amount of wages or salaries due and owing as
Union dues or equivalent contribution.
The aggregate deduction shall be remitted, together with an
itemized statement, to the Secretary-Treasurer of the
Employees who have not made application for membership in
the Union shall, as a condition of employment, pay to the
0. EMT – B and EMT-I
The Employer shall provide courses of instruction, testing,
and re-certification classes to all members of Lockwood Rural Fire District #8.
Costs associated with testing and re-certification shall be borne by the
Employer.
Minimum daily staffing shall be three
(3) full time, full paid members of the Lockwood Fire Fighters bargaining unit.
Minimum daily staffing will commence at the time all three (3) shifts are fully
complemented with four (4) full time, full paid members of the Lockwood Fire
Fighters bargaining unit.
Recall to maintain minimum staffing shall be based on
seniority of rank vacancy.
ARTICLE IV - HOURS OF WORK AND
COMPENSATION
A. Work Schedule - Fire Suppression Personnel
1. All fire suppression personnel shall work a
twenty four (24) hour work shift. Personnel shall report for duty at 0730
hours, and work twenty four (24) consecutive hours. (Until 0730 hours the
following day.)
2. Personnel required to work in excess of
twenty four (24) hours shall be compensated at a rate of one and one half (1
1/2) times the employee's regular hourly rate of pay for all time in excess of
the regularly scheduled shift.
3. Work Cycle
The work cycle for fire suppression
personnel shall be a twenty seven (27) day cycle. The work cycle shall be
scheduled as follows:
Twenty
four (24) hours on-duty immediately followed by twenty four (24) hours
off-duty:
then;
Twenty
four (24) hours on-duty immediately followed by twenty four (24) hours
off-duty:
then;
Twenty
four (24) hours on-duty immediately followed by ninety six (96) hours off-duty.
The
work cycle shall be repeated three (3) times in a twenty seven (27) day work
cycle.
Regularly
scheduled hours in excess of two hundred four (204) hours in a twenty seven
(27) day work cycle shall be compensated at the rate of one and one half (11/2)
times the employee's regular hourly rate of pay.
4. Fire suppression personnel shall be
authorized a fifteen (15) minute coffee break after two (2) hours of work.
5.
A one (1) hour uninterrupted lunch break
shall commence at 1200 hours. A
one
(1) hour uninterrupted dinner break shall commence at 1700 hours.
6. Personnel who respond on alarms or are
required to perform essential work
during scheduled lunch or dinner
breaks shall be afforded the one (1) hour break at the earliest opportunity
upon completion of the essential work, or upon mitigation of an emergency
incident.
7. Personnel shall remain at their assigned duty
station for the duration of the work shift.
8. Alarm
Time
From
1700 hours until 0730 hours of the employee's regularly scheduled work shift
shall be considered alarm time. Employees shall be available for emergency
calls but may use such alarm time for purely personal pursuits, providing such
does not conflict with the mission of the Lockwood Rural Fire District #8.
Sundays and holidays authorized
by this Agreement shall be considered alarm time. Only essential work may be
assigned during alarm time.
9. Day
Shift Assignment
In the event an employee is
assigned to a "Day Shift" assignment to meet special needs of the
Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 such as, training, maintenance, or public
education, etc., the following working conditions shall apply:
a. Personnel
assigned a day shift work schedule shall work an eight (8) hour shift. Day
shift personnel shall report to work at 0800 hours, and end the work shift at
1700 hours.
b. A
fifteen (15) minute coffee break shall be authorized after two (2) hours of
work.
c. A
one (1) hour lunch break shall commence at 1200 hours.
d. Day
shift personnel required to work in excess of eight (8) hours per shift shall
be compensated at a rate of one and one half (1 1/2) their regular hourly rate
of pay for all time in excess of eight (8) hours.
e. The
hours of work for day shift personnel may be occasionally altered to meet
special needs of Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 providing mutual agreement is
reached between the Employer and the
B. Call-Back Pay
Off-duty personnel who are called back to duty shall receive
a minimum of two (2) hours pay at the rate of time and one half (11/2) the
employee's regular rate of pay. Call-back pay shall commence upon page out.
Full-time employees shall be called back prior to any call-back of volunteer
fire fighters.
If an employee requests to leave before the work is
completed, and the supervisor in charge excuses the employee, only actual time
worked is compensable at the time and one half (1 1/2) rate.
C. Special Certification Pay
Employees who are departmentally certified in the following
areas shall receive special certification pay:
EMT-B
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECH
TECHNICAL RESCUE TECH
SCBA REPAIR TECH
Special certification pay shall be $30.00 per month.
The Fire Chief shall determine the number of certifications
needed for Hazardous Materials Tech, Technical Rescue Tech, and SCBA Repair
Tech.
Special certification pay is considered base pay, and is
included in calculations for retirement system membership. Employees may
receive only one (1) special certification pay allotment per pay period,
regardless of the number of specialties the employee is certified in.
D. Higher Classification Pay
Personnel assigned duties at a rank higher than he/she holds
for a period of twelve (12) hours or until the start of the following shift,
shall be compensated at the higher rate of pay commensurate with the higher
rank for all hours so assigned. Higher classification assignments shall be
assigned to the senior qualified employee.
Should the Fire Chief be on vacation, sick leave, taking
compensated time off or is unable to respond to any emergency within (20)
twenty minutes for a period of (12) twelve hours, or until the start of the
next shift, the on duty Fire Captain shall be compensated at the higher rate of
pay which will be (3) three dollars per hour above the current rate of pay for
the Captain’s position.
Higher classification pay shall not be required if the
vacancy in a position is the result of a voluntary shift trade between members
of the Union or for coverage which results from a members absence while
attending Union business.
E. Longevity Pay
Each full-time member of the bargaining unit shall receive
ten dollars ($10.00) per month, per year of service in longevity pay. Longevity pay shall be considered as base
pay.
F. Holiday Pay
Each full-time member of the bargaining unit shall receive
three and one-half hours (3 1/2) of straight time pay per pay period as holiday
pay. Holiday pay shall be considered as
base pay.
G. On Call Pay
Two full time, full paid fire fighters of
any rank shall be on call at all times for Lockwood Rural Fire District
#8. The on call schedule shall be
promulgated and posted a minimum of seven (7) days in advance. The full time, full paid fire fighters on
call shall receive 2.4 hours of regular base pay for each twenty four (24)
hours on call.
An employee may at his/her option
voluntarily trade on call duty with any other full time, full paid
employee. All trades must be authorized
by the officer in charge, on shift, the day of the trade.
ARTICLE V - LEAVES
A. Vacation Leave
1. Each employee shall earn annual leave
credits. Proportionate credits shall be earned at the end of each pay period.
Employees are not entitled to any vacation leave with pay until they have been
continuously employed for a period of six (6) calendar months. Credits shall be
earned according to the following schedule:
a.
Through 10 years = 8 shifts
b. 11
through 15 years = 9 shifts
c. 16
through 20 years = 10 shifts
d. 21
years and beyond = 11 shifts
2. Any employee who terminates employment with
Lockwood Rural Fire District #8, for a reason not reflecting discredit on
her/himself, shall be entitled to cash compensation or unused earned vacation
leave, if the employee has worked the qualifying period. Unused earned vacation
leave shall be paid at the employee's regular rate of pay at the time of termination.
3. Vacation leave may be accumulated. The total
is not to exceed two (2) times the maximum number of days earned annually as of
the end of the first pay period of the next calendar year Excess vacation leave
is not forfeited if taken within 90 calendar days from the last day of the
calendar year in which the excess was accrued.
4. The dates when an employee may take accrued
vacation leave shall be determined by agreement between the employee and the
Fire Chief, or his designee.
5. Unused vacation leave time shall be paid at
the employee's regular rate of compensation to the employee or his/her heirs at
the time of separation from service or death.
B. Maternity Leave
Employees shall be granted two (2) work shifts off-duty to
assist the spouse upon birth of a child. Such leave shall be charged against
the employee's earned available sick leave. Maternity leave shall not affect
the number of available vacation leave slots in the calendar year.
Maternity leave may be extended by the Fire Chief, or his
designee.
Employees requesting maternity leave must submit written
notice of the
approximate date the delivery of a child is expected not
less than thirty (30) days in advance of the approximate delivery date.
C. Holidays
The following shall be recognized holidays:
1. New
Year's Day 6. Labor Day
2. Martin
Luther King Day 7. Columbus Day
3. President’s
Day 8. Veteran’s Day
4. Memorial
Day 9. Thanksgiving Day
5. Independence
Day 10.
Christmas Day
In addition to the above holidays, employees shall be given
an additional working day's pay in lieu of leave for each of the following
holidays in the month in which they occur:
(a) Any day declared a legal holiday by the
Montana Legislature or the Governor of Montana.
(b) Any day in which a general State biannual
election is held throughout the State of Montana.
D. Sick Leave
1. Sick leave is the necessary absence from duty
caused when an employee has suffered illness, pregnancy, or pregnancy related
illness, exposure to contagious disease that requires quarantine, or the
necessary absence from duty to receive a medical or dental examination or
treatment.
2. Each employee shall earn sick leave credits
from the first day of employment. Proportionate credits shall be earned and credited
at the end of each pay period. Credits shall be earned at the rate of one (1)
working day (8 hours) for each month of service without restriction as to the
number of working days accumulated. Employees are not entitled to be paid for
sick leave until they have been employed continuously for ninety (90) days.
3. An employee who terminates employment with
Lockwood Rural Fire District #8 is entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to
one-fourth of the pay attributed to his/her accumulated sick leave. The pay
shall be computed on the employee's rate of compensation at the time of
termination. An employee who received a lump-sum payment, and who is again
employed by Lockwood Rural Fire District #8, shall not be credited with any
sick leave earned during the previous service. An employee who received a lump
sum payment as a result of a layoff, who is again employed by Lockwood Rural
Fire District #8, may buy back all sick leave earned during the previous
service at the rate of compensation at the time of the layoff.
4. Sick leave credits shall be used on a first
earned, first charged basis.
5. Abuse of sick leave is cause for dismissal
and forfeiture of lump-sum payment.
6. Any employee who intends to be absent from
duty because of illness must notify the supervisor on duty at least one-half
(1/2) hour prior to the beginning of the shift that he/she is scheduled to
work. Such notice shall be provided for each scheduled work shift the employee
is absent due to illness.
7. A physicians certificate may be required by
the Employer to substantiate a sick leave charge. The physician may be of the
Employer's choice. Any costs incurred for issuance of such a certificate shall
be borne by the Employer.
8. Female employees may charge maternity leave
against sick leave credits.
9. Sick leave charged in excess of earned sick
leave may be charged against earned and available vacation leave at the
employee's request.
10. Emergency sick leave is defined as a necessary
absence due to illness of an employee's immediate family requiring the
attendance of the employee until professional or other assistance can be
obtained.
Immediate
family means:
Spouse,
parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children, and household dependents of
the employee or spouse.
Emergency
sick leave charged against an employee's sick leave credits shall not exceed a
total of forty-eight (48) hours per year for illness in the immediate family.
E. Funeral Leave
A death in an employee's immediate family shall entitle the
employee to a maximum of seventy-two (72) hours off-duty to attend the funeral.
At the employee's option, funeral leave may be charged to either sick leave, or
vacation leave.
Immediate family means:
Spouse, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children,
and household dependents of the employee or spouse.
F. Jury Service and Subpoena
An employee who is under proper summons as a juror or
subpoenaed as a witness shall collect all fee and allowances payable as a
result of the service and forward the fees to the. Employer Juror fees shall be applied against
the amount due the employee from the Employer. However, if an employee elects
to charge juror or witness time against annual vacation leave, the employee
shall not be required to remit to the Employer any expense or mileage allowance
paid by the Court.
No employee shall lose accumulative benefits as a result of
juror or witness service.
G. Military Leave
Compensation and status will be commensurate with Section
10-1-604, of the Montana Codes Annotated. "
Leave of absence of public employees
attending training camp or similar training program. A state, city, town,
or county employee who is a member of the organized militia of this state or
who is a member of the organized or unorganized reserve corps or military
forces of the United States and who has been an employee for a period of 6
months shall be given leave of absence with pay for a period of time not to
exceed 15 working days in a calendar year for attending regular encampments,
training cruises, and similar training programs of the organized militia or of
the military forces of the United States. This leave may not be charged against
the employee's annual vacation time."
Leave requests for training must be accompanied by military orders
signed by the commanding officer.
H. Leave Without Pay
Employees may request to take leave of absence without pay
for good and sufficient reason with prior approval of the Fire Chief, or his
designee.
Requests for leave of absence without pay shall be in
writing and submitted to the Fire Chief, or his designee.
I. Leaves - General Provisions
1. An employee may not accrue any leave credits
during a continuous leave of absence without pay which exceeds fifteen (15)
calendar days.
2. For calculating leave credits, two thousand
eighty (2,080) hours (52 weeks x 40 hours) shall equal one (1) year.
3. All leaves defined in this Article shall be
charged to the nearest full hour.
ARTICLE VI -
INSURANCES AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
A. Health and Accident Insurance
1. The Employer shall provide fully paid
non-occupational health and accident insurance for each full time employee.
2. The terms and level of coverage specified by
the master policy shall not be changed by the Employer during the term of this
Agreement without express written agreement of authorized representative of the
Union.
3. The Employer shall provide uninterrupted
health and accident insurance for all full time employees during the interim
between an expired Agreement and the ratification of a new Agreement.
B. Liability Insurance
1. The Employer shall provide liability
insurance coverage for all employees. Such coverage shall provide liability
insurance for all personnel on-duty, as well as those who are called back to
duty.
2. The Employer shall incur all costs associated
with provision of liability insurance coverage for employees.
3. The Employer shall provide the Union with a
copy of the liability insurance policy in effect during the term of this
Agreement.
C. Educational Benefits
Any employee matriculated into a program of higher education
shall be reimbursed for fifty (50) percent of the cost of all tuition for all
courses approved by the Fire Chief upon furnishing evidence of satisfactory
completion (grade of C or better, or pass on a pass/fail system); of the course
within thirty (30) days of it's completion. The Lockwood Rural Fire District #8
shall establish an educational fund for such reimbursement. The Lockwood Rural
Fire District #8 shall maintain $6,000.00 annually in the tuition reimbursement
fund (no firefighter shall receive over 20 percent of the deposit annually).
ARTICLE VII - RETENTION OF
BENEFITS
All
rights and privileges relative to wages, hours, and working conditions held by
employees at this time even though not identified in this Agreement, shall
remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE VIII –
SAFETY / LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE
There
shall be a SAFETY / LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE composed of four (4) members. The
Union shall appoint two (2) members, and the Employer shall appoint two (2)
members. This committee shall meet at least quarterly to discuss matters of
mutual interest such as, rules and regulations, standard operating procedures,
safety issues, and other work related issues. The purpose of the committee
shall be to maintain communication between the Employer and the Union, and to
facilitate formulation and implementation of new policies or programs within
the Lockwood Rural Fire District #8.
A
representative of the Employer; and a representative of the Union shall
alternate as Chairman of the committee.
ARTICLE IX -
TERM OF AGREEMENT AND NEGOTIATIONS
This
Agreement shall become effective on July 1,2000, and remain in full force and
effect through June 30, 2002.
The
parties to this Agreement shall honor all terms and conditions stipulated
herein. Neither party to the Agreement may unilaterally change any term or
condition provided by this Agreement without prior written agreement between
the authorized representatives of the Employer and the Union.
All
Articles of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such
time as a new Agreement has been ratified by the Employer and the Union.
Either
party to this Agreement may notify in writing the other of its desire to modify
the Agreement on or before April 1, 2002. Such written notice of intent to
modify the terms of the Agreement shall include the desired modifications and
the Article(s) affected.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, acting by
and through their respective and duly authorized officers and representatives,
have hereto set their hands and
seals on this day of , 2001.
LOCKWOOD
RURAL FIRE DISTRICT #8
LOCAL 3658 INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF FIRE FIGHTERS
____________________________
____________________________
William B. Cummins
J. Allan Hutton
____________________________
___________________________
Jan Wheeler
Keith E. Kober
___________________________
Bradley
M. Bell
ADDENDUM A - SALARY SCHEDULE
Salary
Schedule 2000 – 2001:
Maintenance
Technician $ 32,207.51
Captain $ 31,891.88
Engineer $ 30,021.99
Fire
Fighter II $ 24,578.38
Fire
Fighter I $ 23,509.75
Probationary
Fire Fighter $ 21,372.50
Salary
Schedule 2001-2002:
Three
and three quarter (3.75) percent increase across the board for all positions.
Maintenance
Technician $ 33,415.29
Captain $ 33,087.83
Engineer $ 31,147.81
Fire
Fighter II $ 25,500.07
Fire
Fighter I $ 24,391.29
Probationary
Fire Fighter $ 22,173.97
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The
term of probation for initial employment by Lockwood Rural Fire District #8
shall be six (6) months from the date of hire for all full-time employees
covered by this Agreement.