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A summary of information surrounding the new CFD contract
A blog post from *Politics Early & Often*, part of *Suntimes.com*, highlights how Chicago is avoiding debt to cover back pay for firefighters and paramedics. The article explains that the city has managed to secure over $20 million in retroactive payments without increasing its overall debt, thanks to a new five-year contract with the unions.
The deal includes an 11% pay raise over five years, maintains current staffing levels, and upgrades all 15 basic-life-support (BLS) ambulances to advanced-life-support (ALS), improving emergency care across the city. This shift also frees up about 30 firefighters, as each BLS ambulance is staffed by two firefighter-EMTs. The city plans to hire between 50 and 200 additional paramedics to fill the gap.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel had previously expanded the city’s short-term borrowing program, doubling it from $500 million to $1 billion, to help manage unexpected expenses like back pay. However, officials insisted that the money for the firefighters’ back pay was already budgeted through general finance accounts and wouldn’t come from borrowed funds.
The agreement also sets up a six-member committee—three appointed by the mayor and three by the Firefighters Union—to evaluate the need for more ambulances. One goal under consideration is adding five more ALS units by 2016, bringing the total to 80.
While the contract includes some concessions, such as requiring retirees aged 55–59 to contribute 2% toward healthcare, many of the mayor’s other demands were rejected. These included changes to holiday pay, clothing allowances, and staffing ratios. The union also refused to accept “double houses†that would reduce the number of firefighters per unit.
Emanuel’s team opted for a more collaborative approach, hoping to build trust and pave the way for future pension reforms. The city is under pressure to make a $600 million contribution to stabilize police and fire pensions next year, with assets covering only 30.5% and 25% of liabilities, respectively.
The mayor is pushing for a delay on this payment until 2023, giving him more time to negotiate with unions. A source explained that pushing for stricter terms could have led to costly arbitration, which might have forced the city to give up other benefits in return.
This deal marks a cautious step forward, balancing immediate needs with long-term goals. It shows that while progress is slow, there's still room for negotiation and reform.