A Statement of Position regarding the Common Council's desire to decrease the disparity between the Firefighters and the Police Officers

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RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH A STATEMENT OF POSITION REGARDING THE COMMON COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO DECREASE THE EXISTING DISPARITY BETWEEN THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHEREAS, the Common Council adopted a Resolution on or about March 24, 1980, which recognized the Council's belief in the concept of collective bargaining when setting salaries for police officers and firefighters; and WHEREAS, on or about March 27, 1980, the South Bend Common Council Wage Committee set forth in writing that they would do their best to talk openly, honestly, and in good faith in order to find a middle ground during the wage negotiations; and WHEREAS, the Council's Wage Committee has been duly advised in the matter of the "unfair and inappropriate" (per President of Board of Public Safety) decision of the Board of Public Safety regarding the differences in the 1980- Vacation Schedule for police officers and firefighters, as- well -as the differences which exist between police and firefighters in salaries and certain benefits; and WHEREAS, on or about June 10, 1980, the Council's Wage Committee set forth in writing a guarantee that South Bend Police Officers would not receive more money than South Bend Firefighters; and WHEREAS, the Council's Wage Committee has recognized during the negotiations the importance of taking steps to resolve the dis- parity which currently exists between South Bend Police Officers and South Bend Firefighters in the area of salaries and benefits by proposing a higher dollar amount figure across the board for salaries and benefits for firefighters. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION I. The Common Council believes in the concept of decreasing the disparity which currently exists in the salaries and benefits between South Bend City police officers and firefighters. SECTION II. The Common Council hereby established a policy committment to ensure future good faith salary negotiations between the South Bend Firefighters Association and the South Bend Common Council that the Council's Wage Committee will undertake to equalize as far as possible and practicable the wages and benefits payable to the South Bend Firefighters with those payable to South Bend Police Officers within the elected term of the present Common Council. SECTION III. The Common Council further states that if the membership of Local #362 of the International Association of Firefighters fail to ratify the Council's salary proposal, or if the firefighters participate in any form of an illegal job action, this Resolution shall be null and void. SECTION IV. from and after its by the Mayor. NOT APPRO Av",PTED ,4500, This Resolutiory shall be,,-?-n �ll,force„ and effect adoption by e Commop/¢rou l and royal " Member 'of- the" Common' -Council ---- N