ANDOVER — Firefighters are considering cutting their pay by 1 percent in an effort to avoid layoffs and seat a second person on the town's only ladder truck.
The move could prevent the firefighters union and the town from going to arbitration over a grievance filed by the union when the two-man ladder truck team was broken up in July, said Thomas Agnew, president of the firefighters' union.
Fire Chief Michael Mansfield reassigned the ladder aide position to fill vacancies when other firefighters call out sick or are on vacation, injury or bereavement leave.
The change is expected to reduce the Fire Department's overtime budget by $120,000 this year. But Agnew, a ladder truck operator, filed a grievance over the reassignment, claiming it puts firefighters in danger and violates their contract.
Last week, Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski filed a written decision on the union grievance, but would not comment on his stance because Agnew had yet to review it.
If Stapczynski chose not to reinstate the ladder aide position, Agnew had planned to take the grievance to the Boston-based American Arbitration Association, an independent labor relations group. But on Thursday, Agnew said the union and the town now have "a strong conversation going," and that he, Stapczynski and Mansfield will meet tomorrow to try to resolve the grievance.
"I think we may be able to come to an agreement," said Agnew. "In all reality, it is advantageous to both sides not to go to arbitration."
He said the union could consider a 1 percent pay cut if the resulting savings allow for the restoration of the two-man ladder truck team and also help to avoid layoffs in the fire department. The town and school department are working to close a $1.8 million budget deficit.
"We know the financial burden everybody is under," said Agnew. "It's on the table."
There are seven municipal employee unions. Firefighters and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are the only groups who have not accepted 1 percent pay cuts this year.
As part of his plan to close the budget deficit, Stapczynski said this week that he will soon begin "impact bargaining" with all of Andover's municipal employee unions.
Stapczynski said he has met twice with AFSCME leadership and has scheduled a third meeting.
"We may end up with a (salary) reduction plan after the impact bargaining with them," he said.
To reduce the Fire Department overtime budget by the desired $120,000, Agnew said the town plans to keep the one-man ladder truck team intact until February.
"To me, that's a dangerous situation," said Agnew. "I'm discussing with the town manager and chief what we actually can do that will be able to help the town get through this without jeopardizing the public's safety or the firefighters' safety."
