Fullerton's Employee Unions Rearrange the Deck Chairs

Fullerton’s employee unions have come to the bargaining table and rearranged the chairs for new employees. 

The result is an immediate revenue drain due to the end of the 5% pay-back salary reduction that employees have been subject to since 2009.

There are some long-term savings in the MOU but the end results are not nearly enough to dodge the pension tsunami which has been propelling us towards municipal bankruptcy. 

Don’t forget that the City Council approved the FY2011-2013 budget with a $8-million dollar deficit, citing that negotiations with the bargaining units would cover the shortfall. 

Time and again, the City Council has refused to heed the advice of countless experts, even ignoring commonsense.

How do you spell Failure?  F-U-L-L-E-R-T-O-N! 

Who gets what...

The Fullerton Municipal Employees Federation (300± members):

• No across-the-board raises.
• 5% salary pay-back is ended.  This will be like a 5% raise and is a salary reinstatement for the 300 or so members.
• $1,000 increase from $1,500 to $2,500 for tuition reimbursement.
• Second tier for retirement for new employees that averages a retiree’s highest 3 years instead of using the single highest year for calculating retirement.
• Eliminated the cap on sick-leave payout.
• 7% employee cost sharing for CalPERS benefits.
• Medical benefits have no change for first year.  Second and third year share 50/50 increases in premiums.
• Capping of retiree benefits for new hires.

The Fullerton Police Officer’s Association - Safety Unit (135± members):

• No across-the-board raises.
• End 5% salary pay-back.  This will be like a 5% raise and is a salary reinstatement for members.
• Second tier retirement for new employees replacing 3%@50 with 3%@55 and the average of a retiree’s highest 3 years instead of using the single highest year for calculating retirement.
• Increase retirement cost sharing from 2.252% for CalPERS to 9.252% for current employees and 9% for those hired under the 3%@55 formula.
• Medical benefits have no change for first year.  Second and third year share 50/50 increases in premiums.

The Fullerton Police Officer’s Association - Dispatchers Unit (15± members):

• No across-the-board raises.
• 5% salary pay-back is ended.  This will be like a 5% raise and is a salary reinstatement for members.
• $1,000 increase from $1,500 to $2,500 for tuition reimbursement.
• Second tier for retirement for new employees that averages a retiree’s highest 3 years instead of using the single highest year for calculating retirement.
• Eliminated the cap on sick-leave payout.
• 7% employee cost sharing for CalPERS benefits.
• Medical benefits have no change for first year.  Second and third year share 50/50 increases in premiums.

The Fullerton Firefighters’ Association (80± members):

• No across-the-board raises.
• End 5% salary pay-back.  This will be like a 5% raise and is a salary reinstatement for members
• Second tier retirement for new employees replacing 3%@50 with 3%@55 and the average of a retiree’s highest 3 years instead of using the single highest year for calculating retirement.
• Increase retirement cost sharing from 2.557% for CalPERS to 9.557% for current employees and 9% for those hired under the 3%@55 formula.
• Medical benefits have no change for first year.  Second and third year share 50/50 increases in premiums.
• 7% cost sharing for all miscellaneous employees represented by unit.
• May later meet and discuss staffing configuration changes.
• “Provision to allow compliance with new DMV requirements for physical examinations.”