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BACKGROUND <br />The Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighters Local 1974 represents approximately 115 <br />employees in the following job classifications: Firefighter, Firefighter-Paramedic, Fire <br />Engineer, Fire Captain, Fire Inspector, Hazardous Materials Coordinator and Hazardous <br />Materials Inspector. The most recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between <br />the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Joint Powers Authority and International <br />Association of Firefighter, Local 1974 (Local) expired on July 31, 2007. In accordance <br />with the Agreement between Livermore and Pleasanton creating the Livermore- <br />Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD), the Joint Powers Authority Board and the City <br />Councils of Livermore and Pleasanton are the appropriate agencies to approve labor <br />agreements with represented employees. Representatives of the partner cities met and <br />conferred with representatives of the Local and developed a successor agreement <br />covering the period August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2010. The key elements of the <br />tentative agreement are as follows: <br />DISCUSSION <br />Term of Agreement: Three (3) years starting August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2010. <br />Wage Adjustments: 4% wage increase effective the first pay period of August for all <br />classifications. <br />Work Schedule: Effective January 1, 2008 for aone-year trial period, the parties <br />agreed to implement a "2x4" work schedule in which Fire suppression personnel will <br />work 2 consecutive 24-hour shifts, followed by 4 days off. The change in work schedule <br />does not alter the number of hours worked by an employee assigned to Fire <br />suppression over the course of a year. A Task Force composed of Local and <br />management representatives will be established to refine performance indicators, <br />evaluate and monitor the schedule, and report annually to the City Managers of <br />Livermore and Pleasanton. <br />Medical Insurance Reform for Active Employees: Amends the medical insurance <br />benefit by increasing the co-payments for doctor's visit and prescription drugs for all <br />plans to better align them with industry standards. Further the MOU provides that future <br />increases in the contributions made by the LPFD toward the cost of medical premiums <br />will be based on the dollar increase in the lowest cost HMO plan, rather than the <br />premium for the Kaiser Health plan. In the third year of the agreement, the LPFD <br />organization (Livermore and Pleasanton) will pick up an increase of no more than 15% <br />of the medical premium. Under the terms of the 2001-2007 MOU, the LPFD paid the <br />full cost of the Kaiser family premium, which has averaged more than 15% annually. <br />This new limit will cap the City's future exposure. <br />Medical Insurance Reform for Retired Employees: Establishes that for employees <br />who retire after January 1, 2008, their health benefit plan design would be the same as <br />the active employees with respect to co-payments. In addition, they will receive annual <br />increases towards premiums in an amount equal to the dollar increase provided to <br />active employees. Under the 2001-2007 MOU, the LPFD increased their annual <br />allotment for retiree medical insurance in an amount equal to the increase in the Kaiser <br />premium for an employee and eligible dependent. The changes in this benefit, over the <br />long term, will reduce the LPFD's long term liability for providing retiree medical <br />insurance. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />