WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Fire Fighters have been without a current contract since 2009; and
WHEREAS, A contract award has been granted to the Fire Fighters twice through binding arbitration; and
WHEREAS, The Nutter Administration has appealed the arbitration ruling for the second time; and
WHEREAS, The Nutter Administration claims that the contract will cost the City $200 million; and
WHEREAS, The Fire Fighters claim that the contract will cost $64 million with $14 million per year in savings already in place due to brown-outs and closings; and
WHEREAS, The contract that is currently being disputed is set to expire in July 2013; and
WHEREAS, City Council must approve a budget and set a millage rate for property taxes by June 30, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Without knowing the full extent of the possible financial impact of this contract to the City, Council cannot responsibly approve a budget or correctly set a millage rate; therefore,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate the potential financial liability and fiscal impact to the City for the current contract with the Philadelphia Fire Fighters that will enter arbitration for a third time.
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