After eight months without a contract, Vista firefighters have agreed to forgo a pay increase in exchange for the city preserving a so-called "constant staffing" system that requires city ambulances and fire engines to be ready to roll at all times.
Vista had proposed eliminating the system, which creates overtime opportunities for firefighters because it means the Fire Department has to find fill-ins for workers who call in sick or take vacation days.
Eliminating "constant staffing" would have freed up dollars to pay for raises and given fire Chief Gary Fisher the authority to set firefighters' schedules and determine how many units are running each day, Assistant City Manager Patrick Johnson said.
However, the Vista Firefighters Association balked at that plan. The agreement the Vista City Council approved Tuesday differs little from the union's previous five-year contract that expired June 30.
In the current fiscal year, Vista is set to spend about $17.4 million on fire services. City officials plan to hold that number steady in the next fiscal year.
Vista firefighters are the third-lowest paid firefighters of 18 San Diego County departments, Johnson said. Their base salary is slightly below the region's median, but because Vista employees pay 8 percent of their annual salary toward their pension plans, the firefighters' pay drops near the bottom of the county's ranks, he added.
Still, the head of the city's firefighters union said this week he is satisfied with the deal.
"The best thing for the city was for us to remain at our low wage and benefit level and keep units on the street," said Chris Hammond, president of the association. "We understand that lots of people out there are losing jobs and living on reduced incomes, so for us to stay at the rate we are at is definitely acceptable to us until we get through this economic crisis."
The new contract makes no changes to firefighters' wages, benefits or working conditions but does includes a small modification to firefighters' insurance that puts them on the same plan as all other city employees. The plan requires unions to split annual health care premiums with the city.
When council members approved the deal Tuesday, they acknowledged firefighters' hard work.
"Firefighters are not getting a pay increase or a benefit increase because of the times we're in right now," Councilman Steve Gronke said. "Although I understand they're near the bottom of the pay scale, they still step up every day and do their job."
City officials said they hope they'll be able to provide raises for the department when budget revenues increase.
"It's a shame we can't do any more for our officers (firefighters) here in Vista," Councilman Frank Lopez said. "Maybe in a year or two, when the economy turns around, we can."
Contact staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.
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