KSC firefighters threaten pickets, strike over proposed benefit cuts

Update, March 15:

The KSC firefighters' union says Chenega Infinity has imposed contract terms the union had rejected.

Original story, March 9:

Kennedy Space Center firefighters have authorized a potential strike over what they say are unacceptable cuts to benefits proposed by NASA contractor Chenega Infinity.

As soon as next week, nearly 80 KSC firefighters could start informational pickets outside spaceport gates, waving signs reading “Firefighters deserve sick leave” and “Chenega Infinity is stealing our retirement.”

A group of firefighters assembled more than 100 signs Friday morning outside the Transport Workers Union of America Local 525 office on North Courtenay Parkway on Merritt Island.

“We’re fighting for what’s right,” said Jim Dumont, a 27-year veteran KSC firefighter from Port St. John. “We have to protect what’s right for us, our families, our children. We deserve to have benefits that are there for us.”

Chenega Infinity said the union has been spreading “factually inaccurate” information.

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“We have offered the firefighters union a generous and competitive pay and benefits package which is very comparable to our other first responder units,” company President Eugene Morabito said in a statement.

KSC, which in July 2016 awarded Chenega Infinity the five-year Kennedy Protective Services Contract II worth up to $146.3 million, said it must remain neutral in the bargaining impasse.

“We encourage both parties to continue to work with federal mediators to resolve their differences,” said Tracy Young, a KSC spokeswoman. “Safety is a material part of the contract and we value the essential services that the KPSC contractor and its employees provide. We look forward to a timely and equitable resolution of this matter.”

In a vote concluding Saturday, union members were expected to reject unanimously what Chenega said was its “best and final offer” after 19 negotiating sessions, including eight joined by a federal mediator.

At issue are not the proposed 2 percent pay raises, but changes to paid sick leave and retirement accounts.

Kevin Smith, president of TWU Local 525, said Chenega would slash contributions to retirement plans from as high as 30 percent, depending on an employee's years of service, to 5 percent.

The current 120 hours of paid sick leave — equivalent to six 20-hour shifts — would be replaced by 60 hours of "personal leave," Smith said. Any more sick days would eat into an employee’s vacation time or go unpaid.

The firefighters say they care more about the benefits than raises because they face higher risks of injury or death on the job, and on average reach retirement by their early- to mid-50s. They also work full-day shifts requiring extended periods away from families, unlike typical 40-hour-a-week employees.

Another longstanding dispute surrounds overtime pay. The union says Chenega has capped time-and-a-half OT at 16 hours when firefighters are called in for an extra full-day shift, counting the final eight hours as unpaid rest.

That is one of several overtime-related issues now subject to binding arbitration. The union says it rejected Chenega’s recent offer of $5,000 per member to drop the grievances and accept the contract terms.

Chenega Infinity, which also runs a contract for security services at KSC, says its offer is comparable to other deals it has struck in the past six months with two other unions at KSC.

“The terms we have offered the firefighters are similar to those in place with our other first responder unions at Kennedy,” Morabito said.

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A strike would affect fire and rescue services for roughly 8,000 civil servants and contractors at KSC, the nearby KSC Visitor Complex and areas as far away as Playalinda Beach. It could potentially disrupt launches or other hazardous operations.

KSC said Chenega Infinity is required “to ensure continuity of essential fire services operations in the event of a strike.”

The company this week posted openings for six KSC fire department positions that the union says are not currently vacant.

The firefighters are awaiting word from Chenega Infinity on its next step, which could range from further negotiation to imposing its proposed contract terms.

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 or jdean@floridatoday.com. And follow on Twitter at @flatoday_jdean and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SpaceTeamGo.

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