Philly firefighters face another court challenge to arbitration award

Firefighters in Philadelphia are not getting what they wanted.  The city plans to appeal an arbitrator’s contract decision.  

As part of the five-year fiscal plan submitted to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), Philadelphia has not set aside any money to cover the raises that were granted as part of the firefighters arbitration agreement.  

“We plan to appeal the arbitration and the plan we are submitting expects us to be successful with the award,” said Finance Director Rob Dubow.

Sam Katz, who heads up the PICA Board, is surprised the money isn’t in the plan.

“It’s a complicated concern, that having twice having seen arbitration panels award significant increases in benefits and salaries that those increases are not reflected in this plan,” said Katz.

Dubow says between now and when PICA meets on August 9th the Nutter administration will explain why it did not include the money in the plan.