Supervisors committee forwards San Francisco firefighter MOUs to full Board
May 04, 2023 | San Francisco County, California
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The Government Audit & Oversight Committee unanimously moved to forward two ordinances implementing memoranda of understanding between the City and County of San Francisco and San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 (units 1 and 2) to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
DHR employee-relations staff presented charter bargaining factors and said the department considered inflation, regional wage comparisons and the city’s ability to pay. The presenter described staffing trends, saying the fire department had increased staff about 3.5% after pandemic hiring resumed but still faces retirements and resignations. He described a retention-pay provision that begins in year 21 of service, a 3-year contract term, added holiday pay and an emergency childcare pilot to offset caregiving costs during mandatory overtime periods. The presenter also explained an impasse resolution procedure is included in the MOUs.
Supervisor discussion centered on whether the retention-pay timing would effectively retain workers and on the need for more transparent overtime data. One committee member asked for exit-interview data to support claims that pay changes will reduce departures; DHR said it would take the suggestion into account. DHR also reported average firefighter overtime pay of about $47,000 last year and said the department expects overtime hours to fall as staffing improves.
Union representatives who testified during public comment described understaffing and the strain on suppression ranks. "This contract is not gonna solve our future problems," said Adam Wood, who identified himself as a San Francisco firefighter and secretary of Local 798, describing accelerated retirements and continued workload pressures. Floyd Rollins, president of Local 798, thanked supervisors and urged continuing attention to mental-health and PTSD among members.
The committee vote to forward the ordinances was recorded as three ayes and the items will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors.
DHR employee-relations staff presented charter bargaining factors and said the department considered inflation, regional wage comparisons and the city’s ability to pay. The presenter described staffing trends, saying the fire department had increased staff about 3.5% after pandemic hiring resumed but still faces retirements and resignations. He described a retention-pay provision that begins in year 21 of service, a 3-year contract term, added holiday pay and an emergency childcare pilot to offset caregiving costs during mandatory overtime periods. The presenter also explained an impasse resolution procedure is included in the MOUs.
Supervisor discussion centered on whether the retention-pay timing would effectively retain workers and on the need for more transparent overtime data. One committee member asked for exit-interview data to support claims that pay changes will reduce departures; DHR said it would take the suggestion into account. DHR also reported average firefighter overtime pay of about $47,000 last year and said the department expects overtime hours to fall as staffing improves.
Union representatives who testified during public comment described understaffing and the strain on suppression ranks. "This contract is not gonna solve our future problems," said Adam Wood, who identified himself as a San Francisco firefighter and secretary of Local 798, describing accelerated retirements and continued workload pressures. Floyd Rollins, president of Local 798, thanked supervisors and urged continuing attention to mental-health and PTSD among members.
The committee vote to forward the ordinances was recorded as three ayes and the items will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors.
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