HUNTINGTON BEACH
The city and the Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn. could soon end their long-standing battle over contract negotiations with an arbitration meeting March 24. Both sides will submit their final offers to the arbitrator, who will make a ruling that the firefighters have said they will follow, said Don Boland, the association’s negotiation representative. City Administrator Ray Silver said the ruling will not be binding for the city.
Firefighters have been without a contract since 1993 and are the last of the city’s employees to settle negotiations. Boland said the department ranks last in total compensation compared with other Orange County departments.
The city’s offer in March included a 4% pay raise over two years, but firefighters said they wanted the city to make up for money they lost while not under contract. In May, both parties deadlocked and a mediator was called in. Soon after, the association rejected the mediator’s offer of a 10% raise over three years.
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