No on UFA Pact

To the Editor:

In order to enter negotiations on the Uniformed Firefighters' Association contract, we had to first agree to restructure the starting pay of new hires. This wasn't negotiable. This was stated as something that had to be done before any contract negotiations could begin.

The city desperately wants to put an end to the embarrassingly low starting pay of cops and firefighters. This could have been done without taking away and/or cutting the night-shift differential, the Compensation Accrual Fund and holiday pay. The new guys will be working nights and holidays; they should get paid for it.

The city has a $4.4-billion surplus, which it is trying to downplay. These cuts do not need to be this drastic. We are being used as pawns to block the cops in their arbitration case at the Public Employment Relations Board.

The 12-percent increase for Special Operations Command Firefighters simply divides the job into the "haves" and "have nots." It splits the guys on the job and will lead to resentment. You can already feel the bad attitude from both sides starting to build up. Any company that has anything to do with SOC support will carry a grudge.

I know there are other uniformed unions looking for a contract, but this contract will do irreparable harm to the cohesiveness of our membership. I believe we should vote "no" and head back into negotiations. Do not let the city divide our union!

PETE MORRISSEY, Engine 8 Delegate, UFA