By Brian Meyer
The Buffalo News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo’s fire union will urge hundreds of firefighters to switch to the most costly health insurance plan — one that provides cosmetic surgery benefits — as a sign of frustration over stalled contract talks.
Under a recent arbitration ruling, the city must pick up the full tab for firefighters’ health insurance.
Union President Daniel Cunningham on Tuesday said more than 400 firefighters are still signed up for lower-cost insurance plans. He told the Common Council’s Finance Committee that the union plans to urge members to change plans.
“We’re going to ask each and every member of ours to sign up for the [more costly plan] with the cosmetic rider, so I can make myself look a little bit prettier,” Cunningham said.
If all firefighters currently enrolled in the less expensive health plans opted for top-of-the-line coverage, it would likely cost the city at least $2.5 million annually.
Cunningham repeatedly criticized Mayor Byron W. Brown’s administration for refusing to negotiate in good faith with firefighters. They have been working under the terms of an expired contract since 2002.
In particular, Cunningham assailed administration negotiators for refusing to consider a contract offer the union proposed last June that would have required all newly hired firefighters to live in the city for their entire careers. In return, firefighters would have received a retroactive $5,000 increase in their base salaries, then annual raises ranging from 3 percent to 3.4 percent over 10 years.
City finance officials were quick to condemn the offer as one that would “bankrupt” the city. Cunningham scoffed at the claim, pointing to the city’s bulging surpluses.
Cunningham said he doubts the state will ever change a law that gives police officers and firefighters in larger cities the right to live in neighboring communities. He estimated that 60 percent of all Buffalo firefighters currently live in suburban communities. Cunningham said if the city hopes to change this, it will have to negotiate residency with the union.
“We’ll sell it to you. Let’s make a deal,” said Cunningham, adding that the new residency clause would help to strengthen city neighborhoods and generate tax revenues.
The Brown administration denied that it has been unyielding in negotiations with firefighters. Michael J. DeGeorge, the mayoral’s interim spokesman, noted that firefighters rejected contract offers the city made in 2007 and 2008, both of which would have given employees sizable raises.
“It sounds like Mr. Cunningham is lamenting the fact that they did not accept either of the two offers the city made,” DeGeorge said.
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