Transcript Staff Writer

MOORE -- Firefighters in Moore will see "about a 3 percent" pay increase under a new contract signed by city officials earlier this month.

The contract -- the second part of a two-year agreement -- was passed by unanimous "yes" vote at last week's city council meeting.

"It's a good contract," said Brian Foughty, president of International Association of Firefighters, Local 2047 -- the union which represents Moore's firemen. "It's the second year of a two-year contract and it's pretty good."

The union represents about 57 Moore firefighters.

Under the agreement, Foughty said most firemen would see 3 percent raises, while drivers would receive a 4.2 percent increase in their pay, and the city's four assistant chiefs would have their pay increased by about 7 percent.

For a seasoned firemen, Foughty said that increase means about $1,716 more per year or an increase of $67 per paycheck.

In addition to the added pay, firemen would also see their longevity pay go up by about $40 for a firefighter with three years' service -- from $1,002 to $1,064.

In Moore, firefighters are eligible for longevity pay after completing three years of employment with the city.

Foughty said he was pleased by the smoothness of negotiations.

"We didn't have any problems," he said. "And that was due to very good administration and city management, they are easy to work with. We provide a good service and they help us out."

Other components of the contract include:

All firefighters eligible for rank of Corporal shall have completed 2 years service with the Moore Fire department.

All drivers eligible for the rank of Lieutenant shall have served at least 5 years with the department.

Employees subject to the contract "shall have no right to any work stoppage, slowdown or strike."

The city of Moore will pay 75 percent of the total premium for family and single coverage for the city's health insurance plan.

Firefighters will receive 14 hours of sick leave per month, up to but not exceeding, 2,160 hours.

Firefighters will receive 9 holidays per year, which may be taken at any time, with advance approval.

Firefighters are not required to "perform any maintenance or repairs or modification on any equipment, vehicles or structures owned or leased by the city of Moore, that is not normal to their respective job classifications."

The agreement drew praise from city officials.

"The two-year contract worked really good," said Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis. "We followed Oklahoma City's contract. We started that several years ago because we wanted to avoid the adversarial nature of the contract negotiations. We asked our firemen where they wanted to be and they said they want the same contract that Oklahoma City firemen have."

Lewis said Moore's agreement also includes "an excellent" insurance program.

"We're worked toward that," he said. "I know we don't mind doing it but it is hard to maintain because the costs keep going up."

To monitor the insurance, Lewis said city officials, representatives of the city's three municipal unions and representatives from city staff formed a committee to work with the city's risk management board.

"Because of that, I think we have an excellent insurance program," he said.

Foughty agreed.

"We didn't see any change in insurance," he said. "We've worked real well together, but it hasn't always been like that. Back in the past, we had to fight to get things. But now, the city is growing they (council members) are doing a good job."