Layoffs of 100 city police and fire employees may be delayed by a month while the city negotiates with Tacoma’s public safety labor unions about ways to reduce planned budget cuts.
Tacoma City Councilman Jake Fey says he will propose a motion next week calling to postpone by 30 days implementation of City Manager Rey Arellano’s proposed layoffs in the city’s public safety departments.
“There’s strong recognition that this problem will not be solved unless (police and fire unions) participate in helping to solve it,” Fey said Wednesday. “The case was made last night that there needs to be some time to really look at this thoughtfully. It’s worth the risk to pursue this.”
Fey announced his intentions late Tuesday, and several of fellow council members said they will support his plan next week. Representatives for Tacoma’s police and fire unions also say they are agreeable to further discussions.
“We’re willing to talk about anything that can save jobs,” said Matt Frank, vice president of International Association of Fire Fighters’ Local 31. “The added 30 days gives us the ability to … really examine every possible alternative to the layoffs.”
Detective Terry Krause, president of Tacoma Police Union Local 6, added his union isn’t “saying no, we won’t take pay cuts at this point.”
But, Krause added, the police union remains skeptical about Arellano’s budget figures.
“I don’t get their math, and I was a math major,” Krause said.
As part of his plan to close three-quarters of a $31 million projected budget shortfall by year’s end, Arellano and his department directors on Tuesday detailed plans to lay off 167 city employees. Police would cut 56 employees, mostly in patrol. Fire would lay off 44 employees, including more than 40 frontline firefighters.
The cuts also would eliminate most specialized police programs, close two fire stations and cut four fire engine companies.
Arellano and other city officials have warned that the longer the city delays making such cuts, the deeper they will have to be later, should current budget projections prove true.
“There’s a balance of risk here,” Arellano said Wednesday of Fey’s plan. “But there may be an opportunity.”
The rank-and-file officers’ union was in the midst of contract negotiations when the city’s budget crisis emerged. Collective bargaining has since been suspended until next week, Krause said.
So far, the city has approached the police union about voluntary retirements and suspending certain benefit payments, Krause said. But the city has not yet asked union members to take wage cuts, he added.
Before the police union will talk about potential pay cuts, Krause said it has a duty to examine the city’s budget forecast. Police union officials planned to meet with the city’s finance director Wednesday.
Meantime, the firefighters’ union met with the city’s labor negotiator Wednesday, Frank said.
“We are looking at everything that involves our collective bargaining – wages, hours and working conditions,” Frank said.
Police Chief Don Ramsdell and Fire Chief Ron Stephens each detailed grim layoff scenarios Tuesday that would have dramatic impacts such as slower response times to 911 calls and citizen complaints. The cuts would also mean dumping the police gang unit, school resource officers and most community liaison officers who handle neighborhood policing.
Arellano said Wednesday his staff is now preparing to accommodate Fey’s motion to postpone layoffs at the council’s Tuesday meeting.
Asked if union concessions are the only way to avoid the proposed public safety layoffs, Arellano said: “I think at this point, yes.”
Lewis Kamb: 253-597-8542 lewis.kamb @thenewstribune.com
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