Authorizing the City Council of Philadelphia to retain independent legal counsel for the purpose of intervening, in support of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters Union, Local 22, in the lawsuit filed by the City administration to vacate the arbitration award of November 1, 2000.

WHEREAS, On November 1, 2000, a three-member arbitration panel issued an award establishing the final terms of the contract between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Fire Fighters Union, Local 22; and

WHEREAS,

On November 16, 2000, this City Council unanimously adopted a resolution "urging the Mayor to honor the hard work and dedication of the members of Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters by implementing their recent binding arbitration award;" and

WHEREAS, On December 1, 2000 the City administration filed a motion to vacate the provisions of the arbitration award alleging, among other things, that the Five Year Plan would be violated and the fiscal stability of the City seriously compromised if the provisions of the arbitration award were implemented, notwithstanding the fact that the City could have easily amended its Five Year Plan to accommodate the award just as it did after entering into contracts with the three other municipal unions; and

WHEREAS, One of the key provisions of this arbitration award dealt with increasing the health benefits for our fire fighters, as well as addressing the needs of those union members infected with the Hepatitis C virus; and

WHEREAS, It is unconscionable for the City to ignore the health and safety of those city workers whose sole purpose is to protect the health and safety of all those who live, work or visit Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That independent legal counsel be retained for the purpose of intervening the Council in support of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters Union, Local 22, in the lawsuit filed by the City administration to vacate the arbitration award of November 1, 2000.

End