AGREEMENT (3)
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AGREEMENT
between
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
and
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO
Local 1158
October 1, 1977 through September 30, 1979
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Preamble
1
Article I - Recognition
2
Article II - Representatives of Parties
3
Article III - City's Management Rights
4
Article IV - Grievance Procedure
5
Article V - No Strike
8
A rticle VI - Stewa rd s
9
Article VII - Check-Off
10
Article VIII - No Discrimination
11
Article IX - Holidays
12
Article X - Vacations
13
Article XI - Wages
14
Article XII - Civil Service
15
Article XIII - Posting of Agreement
16
Article XIV - Bulletin Boards
17
Article XV - Work Schedule
18
Article XVI - Work Rule s and Prevailing Rights
20
Article XVII - Seniority and Lay-Offs
21
Article XVIII - Paramedics
22
Article XIX - Line of Duty Injury Pay
25
Article XX - Leaves of Absence
27
Article XXI - Miscellaneous
28
Article XXII - Physical Examinations
31
Article XXIII - Amendments
32
Article XXIV - Severability and Waiver
33
Article XXV- Contract Constitutes Entire Agreement
of the Parties
34
Article XXVI - Duration, Modification and Termination
35
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PREAMBLE
This Agreement is entered into by the City of Clearwater, Florida,
hereinafter referred to as the "Cityl' and Local 1158 of the International
As sociation of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as the l'Union",
for the purpose of promoting harmonious relations between the City and the
Union, to establish an orderly and peaceful procedure to settle differences
which might arise, and to set forth the basic and full agreement between the
parties concerning wages, rates of pay, and all other terms and conditions
of employment.
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ARTICLE I
RE COGNITION
Section 1. The City recognize s the Union as the exclusive bargaining
representative in accordance with Chapter 447, Florida Statutes, as amended,
effective January 1, 1975, for the following agreed upon bargaining unit:
FIREFIGHTERS
All Firefighters, Fire Lieutenants, Fire Inspectors, but shall exclude
all persons holding the rank of Fire Chief, As sistant Chief, Fire Captain,
Fire Marshall and such other managerial employees as may be employed by the
City, and shall additionally exclude all Fire Alarm Dispatchers and Fire
Apparatus and Equipment Mechanics, clerical employees and professional
employees.
Section 2. Should the City establish new job classifications within the
Fire Department which are not of a managerial nature, the City shall, not less
than thirty (30) days prior to staffing such classification, provide notice to
the Union of the establishment of such classification and, if requested, bargain
with the Union concerning wage rates and hours of employment for such
clas sification.
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ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATNES OF PARTIES
Section 1. The City agrees that during the term of this Agreement
it will deal only with the authorized representatives of the Union in matters
requiring the mutual consent or other official action called for by this
Agreement. The Union agree s to notify the City of the name of such authorized
representatives as of the execution of this Agreement and replacement therefor
during the term of this Agreement.
Section 2. The Union likewise agrees that during the term of this
Agreement the Union and the employees covered hereunder shall deal only
with the City Manager or his representative in matters requiring mutual
consent or other official action and specifically the Union agrees that neither
the Union nor the employees hereunder shall seek to involve the City's elected
officials in the administration of this Agreement or otherwise in the operation
of the City's Fire Department; provided that nothing contained herein shall
restrict an employee's opportunity to present non-employTIlent related matters
to such elected officials.
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ARTICLE III
CITY I S MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
Section 1. Except as expressly limited by any provision of this
Agreement, the City reserves and retains exclusively all of its normal and
inherent rights with respect to the management of its operations, whether
exercised or not, including, but not limited to, its rights to determine, and
from time to time redetermine, the number, location and type of its various
operations, functions and services; the methods, procedures and policies to
be employed; to discontinue the conduct of any operations, functions or service s,
in whole or in part; to transfer its operations, functions or services from or
to, either in whole or in part, to any of its departments or other divisions; to
select and direct the working force in accordance with requirements determined
by the City, to create, modify or discontinue job classifications; to establish
and change working rules and regulations; to establish and change work schedules
and assignments; to transfer, promote or demote employees; to lay-off, furlough,
terminate or otherwise relieve employees from work for lack of work, lack of
funds, or other legitimate reason; to suspend, discharge or otherwise discipline
employees for proper cause; to alter or vary past practices and otherwise to
take such measures as the City may determine to be necessary to the orderly
and efficient operation of its various operations, functions and services.
Section 2. If in the sole discretion of the City Manager it is determined
that civil emergency conditions exist, including, but not limited to, riots,
civil disorders, hurricane conditions, or similar catastrophies or disorders,
the provisions of this Agreement may be suspended by the City Manager during
the time of the declared emergency, provided that wage rates and other direct
monetary payments shall not be suspended.
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ARTICLE IV
GRIEV ANCE PROCEDURE
Section 1. A grievance shall be defined as any difference, dispute
or complaint regarding the interpretation or application of the terms of
this Agreement.
Section 2. All grievances filed shall refer to the specific section of
this Agreement upon which the grievance is based and shall contain a concise
statement of the facts alleged to support the grievance. Grievance s shall be
processed in accordance with the following procedure and shall be determined
by application of the terms of this Agreement, the laws of the United States,
the State of Florida, and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Clearwater.
Step 1
The aggrieved employee shall present orally or in
writing his grievance to his Captain within five (5) calendar
days of the occurrence of the matter giving rise to the grie-
vance. The aggrieved employee may reque st that a Union
representative be present. Discussions will be informal for
the purpose of settling differences in the simplest and most
direct manner. The Captain shall reach a decision and
communicate it orally or in writing to the aggrieved employee
within three (3) calendar days from the date the grievance was
presented to him.
Step 2
If the grievance is not settled in the first step, the
aggrieved employee, within three (3) calendar days of the date
of the answer in the first step, shall reduce the grievance to
writing, sign it and present it to the Assistant Chief or his designee.
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The Assistant Chief or his designee shall obtain the facts
concerning the alleged grievance and shall, within three (3)
calendar days of receipt of the written grievance, meet with
the aggrieved employee. The aggrieved employee may be
accompanied at this meeting by a Union representative. The Assistant
Fire Chief shall notify the aggrieved employee of his decision
not later than three (3) calendar days following the meeting date.
Step 3
If the grievance is not settled at the second step, the
aggrieved employee, within three (3) calendar days of the date
of notification from the Assistant Chief or his designee shall
present the written grievance to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief
shall obtain the facts concerning the alleged grievance and shall,
within three (3) calendar days following receipt of the written
grievance, meet with the aggrieved employee. The aggrieved
employee may be accompanied at this meeting by a Union represen-
tative. The Fire Chief shall notify the aggrieved employee of his
decision not later than three (3) calendar days following the meeting date.
Step 4
If still unresolved, the grievance and all responses shall
be submitted to the City Manager or his designee. Within three (3)
calendar days, the City Manager shall notify the employee, in
writing, of his decision.
Section 3. In the event that the grievance is unresolved, the matter shall
be submitted to final and binding arbitration in the manner provided herein.
Section 4. Arbitration
A. Within five (5) days from the receipt of the decision of the City
Manager, the party requesting to arbitrate the controversy shall give written
notice to the other and shall at the same time reque st a list of five (5)
arbitrators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
B. Within forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of the list of arbitrators,
the Union and the City shall meet and each strike two (2) names therefrom,
the remaining name shall designate the arbitrator.
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C. As promptly as can be arranged, the arbitration hearing shall be
held and within fifteen (15) days thereafter, the arbitrator shall render his
decision. The arbitrator, in rendering his decision, shall confine his decision
to the controversy in question and he shall not have the authority to add to,
take away from, alter or amend any provision of this Agreement.
D. The decision of the arbitrator, insofar as it is in conformance
with paragraph C hereinabove, shall be final and binding on both parties.
E. The expense of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by both
parties, except that if either side desires a written transcript such side
shall bear the costs thereof.
F. The time limits contained herein may be extended by the mutual
written consent of the partie s.
Section 5. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the employee from
utilizing the Civil Service Grievance machinery, except that once an employee
proceeds according to the steps in this Agreement he shall not thereafter have
access to Civil Service for the resolution of the grievance involved.
Section 6. Grievances arising out of the discharge, demotion, suspenSIon
or written reprimand shall be commenced within five (5) days of the action
giving rise to the grievance and shall be commenced in Step 3 of the grievance
procedure unless the employee elects to utilize the Civil Service Grievance
machine ry .
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ARTICLE V
NO STRIKE
Section 1. The Union agrees that during the term of this Agreement,
it shall not authorize, instigate, condone, excuse, ratify or support any
strike, slow-down, sit-down, work stoppage or any other act of like or similar
nature likely to interfere with the efficient operation of the City's affairs
engaged in or supported by members of the Union and/or employees represented
qy the Union or other agents or repre sentative s of the Union.
Section 2. Should the Union or a majority of the Union employees covered
hereunder within the City's Fire Department breach thi s Article, the City may
then proceed against the Union as covered in F. S. C. 74-100, Section 447. 019,
and such sections of State and Federal law that may apply. The City would
also be entitled to obtain an injunction with notice at ex-parte hearing for
breach of this Article.
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ARTICLE VI
STEWARDS
Section 1. There shall be one steward for each shift. The Union
shall provide written notice to the City of the appointment and/ or replacement
of stewards.
Section 2. An employee having a grievance shall have the right to
take the matter up with his Shift Steward or other Union Officer during working
time, provided that neither the employee nor the Shift Steward may leave
their assigned Fire Station without prior permission of the Assistant Chief or
his relief to do so, and, provided, further, that the employee and the Shift
Steward shall not interfere with the normal operations of the Department.
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AR TIC LE VII
CHECK-OFF
Section 1. The City shall deduct dues and uniform assessments owed
by the employee to the Union in an amount certified to be correct by the Union
Secretary-Treasurer on a bi-weekly basis; provided, that prior to such
deduction the Union has provided the City with a signed statement from each
employee whose dues are to be deducted that such deduction is authorized;
provided, further that such authorization is in a form satisfactory to the City.
Section 2. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any
authorization for dues deduction may be cancelled by the employee upon
thirty (30) days written notice to the City and the Union.
Section 3. The Union shall indemnify and hold harmless the City from
any and all claims or demands and expense s in connection therewith based upon
the City's participation in due s deduction.
Section 4. Nothing contained herein shall req.rlre the City to deduct
from a salary or be otherwise involved in the collection of Union fines, penalties
or special assessments.
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ARTICLE VIII
NO DISCRIMINATION
The City and the Union specifically agree that the provisions of this
Agreement shall be equally applicable to all employees covered herein without
regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, membership or
non-membership in labor organization, or age, as provided by law.
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ARTICLE IX
HOLIDAYS
Section 1. The following holidays shall be observed:
New Year's Day
Independence Day
Veteran's Day
Christmas Day
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
The above listed holidays will be paid according to the current practice.
Section 2. In addition to. the holidays listed in Section 1, each employee
may receive three additional "floating holidaysl'. For such floating holidays
the employee shall receive his regular rate of pay for such day if he does not
work that day, but shall not receive additional compensation. Neither the
holidays listed in Section 1, nor any day for which an employee is not scheduled
to work, may be designated as a floating holiday.
Section 3. The selection of floating holidays shall follow a mini;rnum of
one weekl s notice of the employee's request and with the permission of the
Department, which permission shall not be arbitrarily withheld. The Union
agrees to supply the Department a list, not later than February 1, showing the
desired dates for floating holidays of employees who have made their decisions
as to which days shall be their floating holidays. Employees whose names
appear on such list shall be given preference in the selection of days over
employees not on such list. In case more than one employee on such list
requests a particular day and the Department determines that both may not be
off on that particular day, the senior employee shall be given preference.
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ARTICLE X
VACATIONS
Section 1. Employees on the 56-hour schedule shall accrue paid
vacation as follows:
1 - 3 years
4 - 6 years
7 - 14 years
15 - 17 years
18 - 19 years
20 - over years
6 duty days
7 duty days
8 duty days
9 duty days
10 duty days
11 duty days
Section 2. If a holiday occurs during a vacation period, the employee
shall receive holiday pay at the current rate.
Section 3. The scheduling of vacation shall be in accordance with
seniority and with the consent of the Department.
Section 4. Employee s becoming sick or having a death in the family
while on vacation may use sick time or death leave for such period of illne s s
or death providing the employee calls the City to notify such change of time.
This period of time shall be added to his vacation. If the employee desires to
use sick time, his illness must be verified by a physician.
Section 5. Any employee who is separated from service shall be
compensated by check for all unused vacation time accumulated at the regular
rate of pay at the time of separation.
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ARTICLE XI
WAGES
Section 1. Basic wage rates for the term of this Agreement shall
be as follows, stated on a bi-week1y basis:
Steps
Firefighter
Fire Lieutenant
Fire Prevention
Inspector
1 409.56
2 430.42
3 451.29
4 474.78
7 536.08
577.82 577.82
606.51 606.51
639.12 639.12
653.47 653.47
670.42 670.42
687.37 687.37
5 498.25
6 523.03
8 549. 12
9 564.77
Section 2. In addition to the rates above, the additional factors
for compensation as provided in the pay plan shall prevail.
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ARTICLE XII
CIVIL SERVICE
Section 1. The parties expressly agree that the Civil Service law
applicable for the duration of this Agreement may be either as contained in
Special Acts of Florida, 21153, or as contained in Ordinance No. 1643.
Section 2. The City shall have the power to make any changes in
the Civil Service Rules to conform to the applicable Civil Service Law.
Section 3. Except where expressly modified by any provision of this
Agreement, the provisions of the Civil Service Act and the Rules and Regulations
thereunder shall govern the relationship between the City, the Union and the
employees covered hereunder. If Ordinance No. 1643 becomes the applicable
law, the substantial benefits and regulations of Civil Service (excepting the
Civil Service Grievance Procedure) shall be maintained for the life of this
Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall indicate agreement, on the part
of the Union, to the abolition of the Civil Service System.
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ARTICLE XIII
POSTING OF AGREEMENT
The City and the Union agree that this Agreement shall be posted
by the City in a conspicuous place at each Fire Station. Further, the
Union agrees, within thirty (30) days after the execution of this Agreement,
to supply individual copies of this Agreement to each member of the
bargaining unit. The City shall bear one -half (1/2) of the cost of duplication.
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ARTICLE XIV
BULLETIN BOARDS
The City agrees to provide space on bulletin boards at each Fire
Station for posting by the Union of notices of meetings or other official
Union information; provided, the Assistant Chief or his designee shall first
review such posting, and if found to be outside of the scope6:f this Article,
such posting shall be modified to the mutual agreement of the parties.
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ARTICLE XV
WORK SCHEDULE
Section 1.
COMBA T DIVISION: Shifts to start at eight (8) A. M. and end at
eight (8) A. M. the following morning. Total: Twenty-four (24) hours.
Combat Division to consist of three (3) shifts: "A", "B", and "ClI, who will
work in the following rotation (see sample monthly work schedule below).
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wed. Thursday Friday Sa turda y
1 Work 2 Off 3 Work 4 Off 5 Work 6 Off 7 Off
8 Off 9 Off 10 Work 11 Off 12 Work 13 Off 14 Work
15 Off 16 Off 1 7 Off 18 Off 19 Work 20 Off 21 Work
22 Off 23 Work 24 Off 25 Off 26 Off 27 Off 28 Work
29 Off 30 Work etc.
INSPECTION DIVISION: Inspectors will work in shifts of 8 A.M. to
4:30 P. M. and 8:30 A. M. to 5 P. M., Monday through Friday, with a thirty minute
lunch break for each inspector. The Chief reserves the right to assignthe
necessary personnel to each shift, but it is agreed that the assignments will not
be made in an arbitrary or capricious manner.
Section 2. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the City
retains the right to adjust work schedule s only for the purpose of complying with
the Fair Labor Standards Act without providing additional compensation for
regularly scheduled hours. Prior to making any such change, the City shall
provide the Union not less than thirty (30) days notice and, if requested, bargain
with the Union concerning the anticipated change.
Section 3. The current practice of selecting individuals required for
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Section 4. Employee s within the Department may exchange on duty
time upon the following conditions:
A. That the person filling in be acceptable to the company
officer and shift commander prior to the change.
B. That the persons desiring the exchange notify the company
officer of the anticipated change not less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to
the start of the anticipated change unless such exchange arises under emergency
situations.
C. That no person may be allowed to exchange more than
seventy-two (72) hours per fiscal year unless the shift commander in his
discretion allows persons to exceed such limitation.
D. That the member working the time will be covered by all
applicable benefits in case of injury while filling in, but will not receive pay
for this period.
E. If the person agreeing to loan or fill in time is sick or fails
to appear for the exchange, his sick leave account or pay will be charged,
F. The person agreeing to fill in for another member is
obligated to remain on duty in the absence of the person with whom the
exchange is made.
G. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary above, the City
shall not be required to allow an exchange if doing so would impose upon the
City liability for any additional overtime compensation over what persons may
otherwise be entitled to. Prior to discontinuing the exchange allowance for
this reason the City shall notify the Union concerning the legal basis for
the decision to do so.
H. Time exchange is subject to a one hour minimum and at
one hour increments.
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ARTICLE XVI
WORK RULES AND PREVAILING RIGHTS
Section 1. It is understood and agreed by both parties that the duties
performed by members of the bargaining unit cannot always be covered by
job descriptions and, therefore, members of the bargaining unit may be required
to perform duties in addition to all those listed within the current job descriptions
which are, in the judgment of the City, related to the purposes of the Fire
Department, which judgment shall not be arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable.
Section 2. Any Fire Department Rule or Regulation in conflict with this
Agreement shall be of no force and effect.
Section 3. Prior to implementing any change in Fire Department Rules
or Regulations, the Union shall be provided ten (10) days notice and an
opportunity to discuss such change. The issue of whether such proposed change
conflicts with this Agreement shall be subject to the grievance procedure
contained herein.
Section 4. All rights and working conditions enjoyed throughout the
Department by the employees at the present time and known to the Chief or
Assistant Chief (Operations), which are not included in this Agreement shall
be presumed to be reasonable and proper and shall not be changed by the City in
an arbitrary or capricious manner; provided that nothing contained herein shall
limit the City's rights under Sections 1, 2 and 3.
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ARTICLE XVII
SENIORITY AND LAY -OFFS
Section 1. Seniority shall prevail in case s of lay-off provided
ability is relatively equal.
Section 2. If reduction in force requires the lay-off of a lieutenant
or inspector, the affected lieutenant or inspector may, at hi s option,. revert
to the position he held prior to his promotion to lieutenant or inspectpr. If
this movement requires a further reduction in force, the same shall be
accomplished in accordance with Section 1 above and the process be continued
down through the ranks.
Section 3. No new employee shall be hired until the employee on lay-off
has been given an opportunity to return to work at his original seniority date
and position; provided, that after one year of lay- off the employee shall cease
to accrue seniority and that such re-employment rights shall cease after five
(5) years from the date of lay-off.
Section 4. Civil service shall govern the effects of lay-off on
employment benefits.
Section 5. The City shall prepare a current seniority list and post
same on all bulletin boards and update such list as needed.
Section 6. Unless otherwise agreed to herein, seniority, as posted,
shall control employment decisions to the same extent as of the execution of
this Agreement.
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AR TIC LE XVIII
PARAMEDICS
Section 1. A Paramedic is an employee within the City's Fire
Department who is assigned by the Department to perform emergency medical
services in an emergency medical services program and who has successfully
completed and passed a Paramedic training program recognized by the
Department and approved by the local medical community as providing advanced
training in the liD. O. T. Paramedic/E. M. T. II course" and offered at the
St. Petersburg Junior College and who has met such other qualifications as may
be established by the State of Florida to be a "Paramedic", liE. M. T. II" or
such other name as is attached to personnel performing the functions contem-
plated by the partie s hereto.
Section 2. The title of "Paramedic" is not a separate job classification
within the Fire Department and those employees assigned as Paramedics shall
continue in the rank they hold while being assigned as "paramedics".
Section 3. No employee assigned as a Paramedic shall be held ineligible
to participate <in promotional examinations held in the City's Fire Department
nor shall service as a Paramedic otherwise disqualify an employee from promotion.
Section 4. As it is desirable for the Clearwater Fire Fighter Paramedics
to stay abreast of the latest equipment, techniques and procedures, the City
agrees to subscribe, on an annual basis, to those stations where Paramedics
are assigned, to those publi&ations selected by the emergency room physicians
who work with Paramedic teams.
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Section 6. Should the City's Fire Department cease to operate
emergency medical services teams, those employees assigned as Paramedics
shall continue to be employed by the City on the same basis as any other
employee in the bargailiing unit.
Section 7. Monetary Incentives.
A. Employees assigned as Paramedics shall receive, in addition to
their base rate of pay, 15% incentive pay while so assigned.
B. Employees of the Department who currently receive 5% incentive
E. M. T. I pay and who are not assigned as Paramedics shall continue to receive
such pay.
C. Employees becoming certified as E. M. T. 1's to an emergency
medical services team shall receive 5% E. M. T. I incentive pay.
D. The member of a Paramedic team assigned to maintain biomedic
equipment used in Paramedic services shall receive 2-1/2% of his base rate of
pay as incentive pay for the performance of those duties and only while so assigned.
E. The incentive pay contained herein shall be calculated according to
the same methods currently used to calculate E. M. T. I pay.
Section 8. Assignment and Removal as Paramedic.
A. The assignment of employees as Paramedics shall be at the
discretion of the Department.
B. The removal of the assignment as Paramedic shall not be subject
to the contractural grievance procedure or civil se rvice grievance procedure
when the removal is based upon the judgment of the medical community with
whom the Paramedic works.
C. The removal of the assignment as Paramedic shall not be subject
to the contractural grievance procedure or civil service grievance procedure
when the removal is based upon the iudgment of the Department that the removed
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only if such removal is based on a determination by the Department that the
employee is guilty of a breach of discipline.
E. Neither the Arbitrator nor the Civil Service Board shall have the
power to substitute his (their) judgment for that of the Department or the
medical community with whom Paramedics work in relation to performance of
employee s to the standards of excellence de sired by the City or the medical
community.
Section 9. The parties agree that Paramedics are not professional
employees within the meaning of the Florida Public Employee Relations Act.
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ARTICLE XIX
LINE OF DUTY INJURY PAY
Section 1. The City hereby agrees to pay the following compensation
to any employee injured in the line of duty in accordance with the following
definitions, terms and conditions:
A. Compensation shall be payable under this Section only with respect
to disability as the result of injury to an employee where such injury is incurred
in the line of duty.
B. An injury shall be deemed to have been incurred in the line of duty
if and only if such injury is compensable under the Florida Workmen's
Compensation Law.
C. The amount of compensation paid shall be the amount required to
supplement funds received from the Florida Workmen's Compensation Law and
any other disability or other income plan provided by the City, either by law
or by agreement, to the point where the sum of the supplement herein provided
and all other payments herein de scribed equal the employee I s weekly wage at
the time of the injury.
D. No compensation under this Section shall be allowed for the first
seven (7) days of disability; provided, however, that if the injury results in
disability of more than fourteen (14) days, compensation shall be paid from
the commencement of the disability.
E. The term disability as used in this Section means incapacity becaus e
of the line of duty injury to earn in the same or any othe r employment the wage s
which the employee was receiving at the time of injury.
F. It is the intent of this Section to provide supplemental compensation
for line of duty injuries only, and this Section shall not be construed to provide
compensation in the event of deai;h or injury incurred in any manner other than
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in the line of duty. In the event of any dispute or disagreement concerning the
interpretation of the t~rms of this Section, then the decisions concerning
definition of those terms issued under the Florida Workmen's Compensation
Law shall control.
G. The maximum period for which payment may be made under this
Section shall be ninety (90) days from the date of injury for each injury, including
recurrences thereof. No payment made by the City during said period shall
be charged against any sick leave which the employee may have accrued.
Section 2. It is the intention of the parties that nothirg in this Agreement
shall interf'elre with the normal procedures under the Workmen's Compensation
Laws or the requirements of the City's workmen's compensation insurance
carrier. Subject to such intended limitations:
A. An employee who is injured in the line of duty and whose condition
require s hospitalization shall have the right to select his own hospital and his
own physician. The choice shall be made by the injured person or if the
condition prevents him from making such choice, by his family. The Firefighter
shall at all times have the right to change his physician. If the injured
Firefighter require s hospitalization and medical treatment outside the City of
Clearwater, it shall be permitted and will not affect articles and sections of
this Agreement.
B. In other cases involving injuries in the line of duty which do not
require hospitalization, the injured employee shall have the right to be treated
by a physician of his own choice.
Section 3. If an employee is killed in the line of duty, the City shall pay
to the widow or heirs of such deceased employee his accumulated severance pay.
Within forty-eight (48) hours of the death of the employee, the City shall deliver
to the spouse or surviving children or 'the employee's dependent beneficiary
a check for the sum d. one month's current salary of the employee.
Section 4. Upon return from working a fire, the employee may request a
physical examination by the City physician to ensure the employee is stable and
capable of returning to work. This right may be rescinded on an individual basis
if repeatedly abused.
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ARTICLE XX
LEA VES OF ABSENCE
Section 1. Sick Leave for Family Illness.
Sick leave will be accrued in the same manner that it is presently
earned. An employee may utilize his accumulated sick time due to an illness
in his immediate family (as that term is defined in Section 2 below) up to a
maximum of 56 hours in each fiscal year; provided that so much of the 56 hours
that is not used in one year may be carried over and used in the next
succeeding year.
Section 2. Funeral Leave.
The current practice of allowing employees time off with pay because of
the death of family members shall be continued, except that the time off shall
not be charged against the employer's accumulated sick leave for absences
following the death of the employee's spouse, children, brother, sister, or
parents. Additional time may be granted by the Fire Chief.
Section 3. Righttto Contribute Work.
In the event that an employee's illness or physical incapacity should
continue beyond the point where his accumulated sick leave, if any, has been
exhausted, he may elect to have other qualified employees of the Department
perform his regular duties; provided that such substitution would not require
overtime compensation for the substitute.
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ARTICLE XXI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. When an employee is assigned in an acting capacity to a
higher position he shall receive five percent (5%) above his current base rate
of pay, after the employee has acted in the higher capacity for 240 hours in
the fiscal year.
Section 2. All life insurance premium contributions and plans,(j\trrently
in force shall continue for the duration of this Agreement. The selection of an
insurance company shall be free and without prejudice and of the employee's
choice from the eleven companies offered by the City.
Section 3. All members of the bargaining unit may wear the LA. F.F.
pin on their uniforms.
Section 4. The City shall continue to provide the clothing and protective
device s currently supplied without cost to the employee.
Section 5. The current practice regarding the wearing of hats and ties
shall be continued, except that ties need not be worn by combat and rescue
personnel while in the station or while responding to emergencies and short
sleeve shirts shall be worn.
Section 6. During the term of this Agreement, the City shall not sub-
contract out to private concerns the basic fire suppression and rescue services
of the Department.
Section 7. The City shall provide and maintain adequate training facilities
as recommended by Florida requirements for training centers, or such facilities
as may be agreed upon by the City and the Union.
Section 8. The City shall provide liability insurance protection with
limitations of coverage which are adequate within the judgment of the City,
including defense for every employee on all claims arising out of the course of
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the employee's employment with the City when said employee is acting within
the scope of his duties. Coverage shall be to the same extent that the City is
covered for such claims and not including punitive damage.
Section 9. To the extent that employees are presently allowed to play
handball, such allowance shall continue for the duration of this Agreement.
Section 10. The current practice of paying accrued rights and benefits
to the designated beneficiary or next-of-kin upon the death of an employee shall
continue.
Section 11. The current practice of college tuition reimbursements
shall continue.
Section 12. The Department shall counsel with any employee who is
passed over by another candidate on the list of promotions.
Section 13. The City agrees to continue the issue of all safety equipment
presently issued to the members of the unit on the same basis as currently issued.
Section 14. The Department shall submit all required time slips and
pay requests to insure prompt payment of all provisions of this Agreement and
that of the City Pay Plan.
Section 15. The City shall pay for cleaning uniform tllousers, uniform
jackets and bed blankets.
Section 16. Employees covered by this contract shall not be required
to perform lawn maintenance at the fire stations.
Section 17. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, persons
selected for paramedic training, during the training period, shall work a
normal combat schedule plus the hours necessary to attend training sessions,
such additional time to be paid at the straight time hourly rate of pay.
Section 18. Any employee whose appearance is required in Circuit
Court or County Court as the result of a matter arising out of the course of
his employment, shall receive a minimum of two (2) hours pay if such
attendance is during the employee's off-duty hours. This same provision
shall also apply when the employee is subpoenaed to appear at the State Attorney's
Office, Public Defender's Office, or a private attorney's office, in a criminal
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case arising from the employee's course of employment. However, this
provision shall not apply when an employee or the Union has brought an action
against the City or any City official.
Section 19. Sick Leave Accrual. An employee may elect to apply 50%
of his accrued sick leave toward an early retirement date, or may elect to draw
a lump sum bonus equal to 50% of his accrued sick leave calculated at the salary
rate applicable on his resignation date. The election is irrevocable.
Section 20. The City will reimburse to the employee at the rate of
Fourteen Cents ($. 14) per mile for each move a Firefighter is required to make,
and use his own l1~hicle, after he has reported to his duty station; or, the City
may elect to provide transportation. This distance will be computed by the City,
so that both the City and employee can refer to a standard table to ascertain the
distance between any two (2) Fire Stations. The money shall be paid September 30
of each year. In the event that an employee is transported in a City vehicle
under the provisions of this part, the City will provide the employee transportation
back tohis duty station at or before the end of the employee's tour of duty if the
employee so requests.
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ARTICLE XXII
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Section 1. The City shall provide for every member covered by this
Agreement a complete and comprehensive annual physical examination at the
City's expense. The results of these tests shall be made available to the member.
Section 2. The City agrees to pay all expenses for innoculation or
immunization shots for employees and members of an employee's family residing
in his household when such becomes necessary as a result of said employee's
exposure to contagious diseases where said employee had been exposed to said
disease in the line of duty; provided that the employee first makes all reasonable
efforts to have this service performed at no cost by the County Health Department.
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AR TIC LE XXIII
AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended at any time by the mutual written
consent of the parties, but no such attempted amendment shall be of any force
or effect until placed in writing and executed by each party hereto.
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ARTICLE XXIV
SEVERABILITY AND WAIVER
Section 1. Each and every clause of this Agreement shall be deemed
separable from each and every other clause of this Agreement to the end that
in the event that any clause or clauses shall be finally determined to be in
violation of any law, then and in such event such clause or clauses only, to
the extent only that any may be so in violation, shall be deemed of no force and
effect and unenforceable, without impairing the validity and enforceability of
the rest of the contract, including any and all provisions in the remainder of
any clause, sentence or paragraph in which the offending language may appear.
Section 2. The exercise or non-exercise by the City or the Union of the
rights covered by this Agreement shall not be deemed to waive any such right
or the right to exercise them in some other way in the future.
Section 3. In the event of invalidation of any article or section, both
the City and the Union agree to meet within thirty (30) days of such determination
for the purpose of arriving at a mutually satisfactory replacement for such
articles or sections.
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ARTICLE XXV
CONTRACT ClSJNSTITUTES
ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES
The parties acknowledge and agree that, during the negotiations which
resulted in this Agreement, each had the unlimited right and opportunity to make
demands and proposals with respect to any subject or matter included by law
within the area of collective bargaining and that all the understandings and
agreements arrived at by the parties after the exercise of that right and
opportunity are set forth5in this Agreement. Therefore, the City and the Union,
for the life of this Agreement, each voluntarily and unqualifiedly waives the
right to require further collective bargaining, and each agrees that the other
shall not be obligated to bargain collectively with respect to any matter or
subject not specifically referred to or covered by this Agreement, whether or
not such matters have been discussed, even though such subjects or matters
may not have bean within the knowledge or contemplation of either or both
parties at the time that they negotiated or signed this Agreement. This
Agreement contains the entire contract, understanding, undertaking, and
agreement of the parties hereto, and finally determines and settles all matters
of collective bargaining for and during its term, except as may be otherwise
specifically provided herein.
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ARTICLE XXVI
DURA TION, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
Section 1. This Agreement shall be effective as of the 1 st day of
October, 1977, and shall continue in full force and effect until the 30th day
of September, 1979, except as provided in Section 2 below. At least one
hundred twenty (120) days prior to the termination of this Agreement, either
party hereto shall notify the other, in writing, of its intention to modify, amend
or terminate this Agreement. Failure to notify the other party of intention to
modify, amend or terminate, as hereinabove set forth, will automatically
extend the provisions and terms of this Agreement for a period of one (1) year,
and each year thereafter absent notification.
Section 2. Negotiations may be reopened on the subject of wages,
insurance, hours of work, vacation and holidays only, for the period of
September 30, 1978, to expiration. At least one hundred twenty (120) days
prior to the expiration of the first year of this Agreement, either party hereto
shall notify the other, in writing, of its intention to reopen negotiations on the
subjects of wages, insurance, hours of work, vacation and/or holidays. Failure
to so notify will automatically extend the Agreement in all its particulars,
including wages, insurance, hours of work, vacation and holidays, for a
period of one (1) year, and each year thereafter absent notification.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunder set their hands
'Q:
YO
and seals this
day of
Atte st:
oe~ L~.-,~~
tJ -
~
City Clerk
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of:
~~~ ~~
'J /.... ~,." "
)0--, ,C ,7 ~
"//i ;-~7-:')~-:':..~,-~.L- ,J., (' -,-- {"Le:o ,Le.....
As to the City
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of:
akM/cL->Y'd", 1~tdL~~
-7Jd1,..
I.A.F.F.
~
, 1978.
CLEARWATER, FLOmDA
By
Countersigned:
Mayor-Commissio
INTERNA TIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO, Local 1158
By c:; ~1X~- ~/J1Jt
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,>
AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
and
1. A. F. F., AFL-CIO, Local 1158
In view of the fact that there is a typographical error in Article XV,
Section 5 (page 19) of the Agreement between the City of Clearwater, Florida,
and The International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, Local 1158,
executed March 20, 1978, the City and the Union hereby agree to the
following language to constitute Article XV, Section 5, of said Agreement,
as previously agreed upon at the bargaining table:
Section 5. When an employee is called in more than twenty
(20) minutes prior to the start of his regularly scheduled tour of duty
or held over more than twenty (20) minutes, he shall receive a
minimum of four (4) hours pay at the applicable rate.
The City and the Union hereby further agree that this Amendment shall
be attached to, and made an integral part of, said Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereUlder set their
hands and seals this 3rd day of
April
, 1978.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO,
Local 1158
BY~.~t.~
Pre sident
CITY OF CLEAR WA TER, FLORIDA
By
(~x,J:~~
rank X. Kowalski
Bargaining Agent
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of:
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of:
~,(j. ~
:'(::.:I~ /)hb tJU'<<.oA'.-)
/As tq e City {/
cf ae;y /;7" j}4U?ud i
~
\:/.tA'z. /Yl /(1 p~ tl ' 'b~--oR-
/As to the 1. A. F. F., Local 1158