A Collective Bargaining Agreement Between

 

Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District

 

and

 

Southwest Florida Professional

Fire Fighters & Paramedics

Local 1826

 

 

Effective Through September 30th, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE                                                                                                             PAGE

 

   1                   Preamble----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

  2                   Recognition-------------------------------------------------------------------- 4

3                   Strike Prohibition, Work Requirement and Discrimination--------------- 5

   4                   Management Rights-------------------------------------------------------- 6-7

   5                   Union Rights------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

   6                   Rules & Regulations---------------------------------------------------------- 9

   7                   Union Business-------------------------------------------------------------- 10

   7A                 Union Business Time Donation Sheet------------------------------------- 11

   8                   Dues Deduction ------------------------------------------------------------- 12

   8A                 Dues Deduction Authorization Sheet-------------------------------------- 13

   9                   Grievance Procedure---------------------------------------------------- 14-15

10                  Reduction of Personnel----------------------------------------------------- 16

11                  Workers Compensation----------------------------------------------------- 17

12                  Sick Leave--------------------------------------------------------------- 18-20

13                  Leave of Absence / Bereavement---------------------------------------- 21

14                  Jury Duty, Subpoenas, Time to Vote-------------------------------------- 22

15                  Vacation/Annual Leave---------------------------------------------------- 23

16                  Holidays---------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

17                  Hours of Work / Overtime-----------------------------------------------25-26

18                  Uniforms & Equipment------------------------------------------------- 27-28

19                  Trading of Time------------------------------------------------------------- 29

20                  Education--------------------------------------------------------------------- 30

21                  Incentive Pay------------------------------------------------------------ 31-33

22                  Retirement Plan------------------------------------------------------------- 34

23                  Employee Insurance-------------------------------------------------------- 35

24                  Discipline & Discharge------------------------------------------------- 36-37

25                  Military Leave--------------------------------------------------------------- 38

26                  Station Facilities------------------------------------------------------------- 39

27                  Prevailing Rights------------------------------------------------------------- 40

28                  General Provisions---------------------------------------------------------- 41

29                  Physicals------------------------------------------------------------------ 42-43

30                  Pagers------------------------------------------------------------------------ 44

31                  Wages-------------------------------------------------------------------- 45-48

32                  Alcohol & Drug Testing---------------------------------------------------- 49

33                  Promotions / Acting out of Classification----------------------------- 50-51

34                  Duration---------------------------------------------------------------------- 52

35                  Minimum Manning-----------------------------------------------------------53

36                  Entire Agreement ----------------------------------------------------------- 54

37                   Ratification------------------------------------------------------------------ 55

 


            

ARTICLE 1                                               PREAMBLE

 

1.1        In accordance with Chapter 447, Part II of the Florida Statutes, this agreement is entered into by and between Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District (hereinafter, the district) and the Southwest Florida Professional Fire Fighters, Local 1826, International Association of Fire Fighters, Inc. (hereinafter, the union).

 

1.2        The purpose of this agreement is to promote and maintain harmonious and cooperative relationships between the District and its employees, both individually as well as collectively through the Union; to foster safety in the work place; to provide an orderly and peaceful means for resolving differences which arise concerning the interpretation or application of this agreement; and to set forth herein the basic and entire agreement between the parties in the determination of wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment.

 

1.3                 This agreement is intended to promote the best interest, of the public, District and employees by

            providing the highest level of fire protection, prevention, suppression, education, and medical

            services consistent with rescue services that the district currently provides to the citizens within

the district in the most professional, efficient and cost-effective manner possible, based on available resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2                                            RECOGNITION

 

2.1        The District hereby recognizes the union as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees of the district as certified by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission in Case No. RC-99-034, Certification #1272, September 30, 1999.

 

The appropriate bargaining unit is comprised as follows:

 

INCLUDED: All regular and probationary full time employees of the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District in the following classifications: Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Fire Safety Inspector, and Fire Mechanic.                   

                                               

EXCLUDED:  Fire Chief,  Deputy Fire Chief, and Administrative Assistant.

 

2.2        The Union may display a bulletin board in any station of the District. This bulletin board may be 3' x 4', and may be displayed in the designated employee area at all stations. Materials, which are derogatory, abusive or discriminatory towards age, race, religion, gender, or handicapped, may not be posted and shall be removed if they are posted.  Material shall be posted by the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District District Vice President or approved shop steward and shall bear the employee’s initials and date of posting.

 

2.3        The Union may display a certificate of 100% membership in an area of public view, in each station of the District, so long as the Union maintains 100% membership of all bargaining unit employees.

 

2.4        The Union DVP will have the opportunity to send information to Union employees by submitting all copies of the information to the District for enclosure with the employees pay checks. Distribution of paychecks will not be delayed to accomplish this request.

 

2.5               All employees will serve one (1) year of probation.  These Employees will be “AT Will and be held to the Standards as stated in the Districts Administrative Guidelines. 

 

2.6               New Employees may have the period of probation extended one time, for an additional six (6)

months as shall be determined by the Chief in the best interests of the District.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


ARTICLE 3

 

STRIKE PROHIBITION, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND DISCRIMINATION

 

3.1        The union and bargaining unit members do not assert and will not assert or advocate any right to engage in any work stoppage, slow down or strike, or to withhold services or otherwise hinder the District’s operations.  Each employee shall comply with this Article and the strike prohibition of Section 447.505, Fla. Statutes and the Constitution of the State of Florida, Article 1, Section 6.

 

3.2        In justice and fairness to the District, and all persons who are served by it, all employees shall report to work on time, not leave early unless authorized, be prompt in reporting to their assigned duties, and faithfully perform their duties.

 

3.3        Neither the District nor the union shall discriminate against any employee covered by this Agreement because of union membership or non-membership, or for any reason not contrary to law

 

3.4        The District shall not discriminate between bargaining unit employees and non-bargaining unit employees in areas of discipline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 ARTICLE 4                                       MANAGEMENT RIGHTS

 

4.1        The union recognizes the Fire Chief as the District’s duly authorized business agent and acknowledges that he or his designee possess the right to direct day to day operation of the Matlacha Pine Island Fire Control District on behalf of the Board to the extent provided by Florida Statute 447.209. The union recognizes Management Rights are subject to applicable law and the terms of this Agreement.

 

4.2        Management rights include, but are not limited to, the following:               

 

a)         to direct all operations of the district; 

 

b)         to establish and modify reasonable work rules  schedules of work; and administrative procedures and guidelines as may be needed in the best interest of the District.

 

c)         to hire, promote, transfer, schedule and assign employees to positions within the district’s  organization;

 

d)         to suspend, demote, discharge or otherwise discipline employees, for just cause, Just cause shall include, but not be limited to conduct described in Article 24, Paragraph 8 (24-8) of this agreement.  Nothing contained herein shall preclude the Chief from taking disciplinary actions based upon safety code violations, ethics violations, or for any other offense as provided for in the District’s Administrative Guidelines.

 

e)         to relieve employees from their duties because of lack of work or for any other legitimate reasons;

 

f)          to maintain efficiency of fire and rescue operations;

 

g)         to take whatever action is necessary to comply with federal, state, and local laws;

 

h)         to introduce new and improved methods or facilities;

 

i)          to change existing methods or facilities;

 

j)          to determine the kinds and amounts of operational services to be performed, and the number of personnel classifications required to perform such services;

 

k)         to contract for goods and services other than those provided by bargaining unit employees;

 

l)          to determine the methods, means, and personnel by and through which operations are to be conducted;

 

m)        to take whatever action is necessary to carry out the functions of the District in situations of emergency;

 

n)         to promote, hire or appoint such personnel as may be deemed necessary to fulfill management or supervisory functions required for proper operations;

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4,                       MANAGEMENT’S RIGHTS CONTINUED 

 

o)        to make such adjustments as may be deemed  necessary to the budgeted expenditures incurred or agreed to, so as to maintain a sound financial profile of tax revenues received and disbursed.

 

p)         to hire civilians to perform duties which do not require a certified fire fighter. Civilians performing these duties, which are not included in Article 2.1 shall not be subjected to this agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5                                        UNION RIGHTS

 

5.1        Members of the bargaining unit shall have the right to: either join the union, or not join the union. They shall also have the right to engage in lawful concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining negotiations; to express or communicate to management any view, grievance, complaint or opinion, related to the conditions of compensation and terms of employment of public employees for their betterment, all free from restraint, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.

 

5.2        Nothing shall abridge the right of any duly authorized representative of the union to present views of the Union on issues that affect the welfare of its members or the District as long as it is clearly presented as the view of the union and not necessarily the view of the District to the District’s elected officials.