New Orleans Fire Fighters Win Longevity Case

November 13, 2006 – A Civil District Court Judge has ruled in favor of New Orleans, LA Local 632 in a legal dispute between the fire fighters and the City of New Orleans. Judge Kern Reese ordered the city to immediately begin paying the fire fighters the state-mandated longevity raises or be found in direct contempt of the orders of this court.

“This is the ruling we have been looking for,” says Nick Felton, president of Local 632. “But, the fight for fair compensation is not over.”

In offering $2.1 million in overdue longevity raises, however, city officials have refused to give fire fighters an additional 10 percent across-the-board raise, which the City says would cost another $2.1 million a year. All other city workers, including police, got a 10 percent raise this fall.

“Some of our fire fighters make less than $10 an hour, which makes it difficult to recruit and retain excellent first responders,” says Felton. “This is especially true when significant pay raises have been consistently given to all other city employees.” The ruling did not directly affect the city’s largest obligation to fire fighters: an estimated $100 million or more in lump-sum payments, ranging from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars, which are due to about 1,000 current and retired fire fighters or their heirs to cover lost raises going back to 1990. How the city will deal with that debt remains unknown. The City can still appeal Judge Reese’s ruling; however, the contempt of court stipulation in the ruling could mean fines or possible imprisonment of a city official.

Local 632 President Felton says he hopes the city will comply with the judge’s orders and that a reasonable solution can be reached on other issues, “Fire fighters have always shown a high level of commitment to New Orleans,” he says. “We will continue to fight for what is best for public safety.”