An arbitrator recently ruled in favor of Des Moines firefighters in a compensation dispute, concluding that the city must provide extra time off to those who work overtime on holidays.
Why it matters: The decision could greatly influence the fire department’s funding and staffing choices.
- It comes at a time when budgets are tight, with city officials last month discussing the idea of removing a rig from service.
Catch up quick: The case focuses on firefighter Nathan Jones, who worked a 24-hour shift on July 4, 2024.
- He received double-time pay for 17 hours considered overtime, but he did not additionally accrue those hours for future time off, unlike the seven hours that were part of his regular shift.
Zoom in: The city argued that the union contract didn’t entitle Jones to both double pay and time off for overtime hours, with fire chief John TeKippe saying that at least one instance where another firefighter was paid for both on a Christmas Day shift may have been “an error in an entry.”
Yes, but: Arbitrator Marsha Ternus, a former Iowa Supreme Court justice, ruled on July 25 that the contract’s language does not support the city’s interpretation, determining that Jones — and others in similar roles — are eligible for the extra holiday hours…