Pasadena Firefighters Set to Negotiate New Contract With City at Finance Committee Meeting Wednesday

Officials representing the Pasadena Firefighters Association (PFFA) will meet with City officials to start negotiations on a new Memorandum of Understanding that governs the employment of Pasadena Fire Department personnel, during a special meeting called by the City Council’s Finance Committee for Wednesday, January 4.

City Manager Steve Mermell and Human Resources Director Jennifer Curtis will be representing the City. PFFA officers led by Scott Austin, the association’s President, will represent the firefighters in the closed door dialogue.

“We’re starting the renegotiation process for our MOU and doing it in a more timely fashion.” Austin said about the talks on Wednesday. “In an optimal world, you get it done in one meeting, but that’s not how these things work. And we’re not the only group there too.”

The current MOU between the City and the firefighters union was signed in 2013 and expires on June 30. Austin said the negotiations may take several months.

“I would think this is just the beginning, and it’s an opportunity to look at the agreement and for city staff to give some input for them,” Austin said. “For the most, it may take a couple of months, but I expect to make good progress with the city on that.”

Austin would not want to comment on a question whether they were pushing for pay hikes or additional equipment for Pasadena’s firefighters.

“Part of the negotiation process is not to talk about that. It’s not good for either party to comment in its infancy,” Austin added.

The Finance Committee could be presented with other new budget matters in their meeting.

“At that meeting, other city staff members have been solicited by the City’s Director of Human Resources to present other complex or significant budgetary impact matters to the Finance Committee, however, no such matters have been added to the agenda as of this time,” a memorandum attached to the Committee’s agenda said.

The closed door session begins at 4 p.m. at the City Council Conference Room at the Pasadena City Hall.