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494 <br /> ' AGENDA (continued) ACTION TAKEN (continued) <br /> WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (continued) WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (continued) <br /> 11. (continued) Jeff Pector, 721 Birch, San Mateo, Assistant <br /> to Executive Officer, San Mateo County Central <br /> Labor Council, AFL-CIO, read a statement from <br /> Marcy Ballard, Executive Officer, urging <br /> settlement of salary negotiations and offering <br /> the Labor Council's assistance. (Statement <br /> on file) <br /> Happy Stewart, Field Representative, Service <br /> Employees International Union (SEIU) Local <br /> 715, 541 Middlefield Road, stated her organ- <br /> ization supports the firefighters in <br /> negotiating equitable wages. <br /> Gary Saunders, San Mateo County Building <br /> Trades, 837 Seminole, suggested that there is <br /> a disparity between wages paid firefighters <br /> in Redwood City and elsewhere in the County. <br /> He stated that a low pay scale would cause the <br /> City's firefighters to leave after receiving <br /> training and take better paying jobs else- <br /> where which would be costly in the long run. <br /> Mr. Saunders urged a fair and equitable <br /> settlement soon. <br /> Leo Mittendorf, Paralegal Labor Relations <br /> Representative for Davis, Cowell & Bowe, <br /> attorneys representing Firefighters Local 2400, <br /> San Francisco, commented on the complex job <br /> of the modern firefighter and the increased <br /> need for knowledge and skill in dealing with <br /> emergencies. Mr. Mittendorf suggested Redwood <br /> City is becoming a training ground for Bay <br /> Area cities because of the low salary scale. <br /> Iwo He recommended the use of advisory, fact <br /> finding arbitration to resolve any differences <br /> in negotiating salary. <br /> Charles Bubniak, 540 St. Francis, retired <br /> Battalion Chief, Redwood City Fire Department, <br /> suggested the City is becoming a training <br /> ground for firefighters who seek jobs else- <br /> where at higher salaries after being trained. <br /> Mr. Bubniak acknowledged that large numbers <br /> always apply whenever firefighter positions <br /> are advertised, but questioned whether many of <br /> them will meet qualifications. He also noted <br /> that many older firefighters have retired re- <br /> cently and said that the City should build an <br /> experienced force. <br /> .Tom Bezant, 875 Beech Street, said he is <br /> p ea-1 sed to learn that the City evidently pro- <br /> vides such good firefighter training and urged <br /> Council to hold the line on wage increases. <br /> Mr. Bezant suggested firefighters could be <br /> offered lower utility or tax rates instead of <br /> salary increases, if they live in the City. <br /> Fernando Vega, 321 Spring Street, stated that <br /> he has considered the value of the Fire Depart- <br /> ment and the services he is aware have been <br /> rendered during his 22 years of active in- <br /> volvement in the community, and the need for <br /> ••••• qualified people as firefighters. Mr. Vega <br /> urged Council to remember their responsibility <br /> to citizens in negotiating with the fire- <br /> ,, fighters and do the best possible for the <br /> firefighters. <br /> Reg.Mtg. <br /> 3/16/81 <br /> Page 4 <br />