`Wages frozen in IAFF’s new 1-year pact with city`

Farrell council on Monday agreed to a one-year contract with its three remaining unionized firefighters. The pact freezes wages, a provision all other city employees have agreed to.

The one financial change is a $5 increase in each of the four longevity pay steps. Longevity pay kicks in at five years of service and tops out at the 20th year. The steps, which increase every five years, are $60, $65, $70 and $75.

City Manager LaVon Saternow said she reached an accord with new union President Andrew Androsko Monday afternoon.

The union, Local 1615 of the International Association of Firefighters, allowed the city to schedule a part-timer along with a full-timer to qualify for the required two men a shift, Mrs. Saternow said. Three full-timers, Richard Egercic, Mark Petrillo and Jim Scarmack, recently retired under a short-term incentive package, leaving the department with four full-timers, including the chief.

Reducing the size of the fire department was recommended by the state as a way of cutting costs. The city also agreed to a wording change in the severance clause that gives the firefighters more protection in the event of layoffs.

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Updated January 5, 1999
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