In what labor union lawyers said was an unprecedented move, the Central Fire board Thursday voted to cut firefighters’ base pay 7 percent starting in July and require firefighters to pay back 7 percent of their base salary for the past 12 months.
The decision came with a caveat: If Central Fire and its labor union negotiate a new contract by mid-July, there will be no pay cut or retroactive pay cut.
Central Fire Chief Jeff Maxwell said during the meeting that the move was prompted in part by the fire department’s long-term projected deficit. It faces more than $30 million in unpaid liabilities related to health care and retirement benefits, according to a recent audit. The move would save the district $360,711.
The Fire District board manages a roughly $22 million annual budget with firefighters base pay ranging from about $77,000 to $94,000, according to public records.
Carol Koenig, a San Jose attorney who represents International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3605, said she believed the retroactive pay cuts were illegal.
“I have never had an employer come back with a retroactive pay reduction,” Koenig said.