Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2007

(Concord) – The Concord Firefighters Union announced today that former Mayor William Veroneau will moderate their upcoming Candidates Forum for City Council candidates. The forum will be held on October 1st, from 6 - 9 PM, at the City Council Chambers on Green Street. The forum is intended to allow Concord residents to hear the candidates answer questions on issues important to Concord citizens. Candidates in contested elections, Ward 8, At Large Councilors and Mayoral Candidates, will be featured at the forum. The public is welcome to attend, or call in their questions. The Forum is jointly sponsored by the Concord Firefighters, Concord Fire Officers and the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association.

William Veroneau, who served as Concord Mayor from 1991-2001, has worked with the Firefighters Union to develop a format and questions for the forum that will highlight the candidate’s positions on various issues.

“I am privileged to have been asked by the sponsors of this forum to moderate this event. As a former mayor, I am looking forward to overseeing this discussion of municipal matters of significant interest to all of us. It promises to be a most enlightening and entertaining session.” stated Veroneau.

"For many years, the firefighters of Concord have sponsored a biennial forum which brings candidates for contested Mayor and City Council seats together for an open discussion. This 2007 edition will allow interested voters of Concord to evaluate each of the candidates who will describe their ideas in a forthright exchange of views on the challenging issues facing the City.” said Veroneau.

The forum will be broadcast live on Concord Community TV (CCTV), Channel 17, and will be re-broadcast on Channel 17 throughout October until the City Election.

For additional information, please contact:

John McBride (603)396-9167
Derek Martel (603)848-6246

Mayor William Veroneau served as Mayor of Concord for ten years (1991-2001).

The Concord Firefighters Union has been proudly serving the citizens of Concord for over 50 years. There are 72 firefighter EMT and Firefighter/Paramedics, 8 fire dispatchers and a Fire Alarm Traffic Technician.

The Concord Fire Officer’s Union is comprised of Battalion Chiefs, Captains and Lieutenants in the Fire Department. There are a total of 28 positions represented.

The Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association is comprised of police officers and detectives. There are 55 patrol positions represented.

The Fire and Police Department serve New Hampshire’s capital city, with a population of nearly 50,000 residents. Daytime population increases to as much as 90,000 people.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9:00 AM - September 1, 2007

Firefighters At Impasse Over Wages

(Concord) – The Concord Firefighters Union today announced that they have reached impasse with the City of Concord in contract negotiations. The Union and City negotiated for several months before impasse was declared. The negotiations broke down over discussions of wages and healthcare. The firefighters have been operating without a contract since July 1st. The City and Union have a mediation session scheduled for September 4th.

The Union studied wages and healthcare compared to fire departments across New Hampshire, as the City has done for negotiations over the past 10 years. The survey shows that Concord Firefighters’ compensation has fallen behind their peers to a significant extent. The City also conducted a survey of employee compensation.

The City of Concord hired the Condrey Associates, at a cost of nearly $50,000 of taxpayer money, to study wages for City employees. Condrey determined that Concord workers are significantly underpaid. The City Council sent the initial reports back to Condrey, directing the consultant to lower their findings. Condrey reduced their wage estimates by nearly 60% from the first to the last report to the City Council. The initial report from Condrey recommends compensation required to “attract and retain a quality workforce”. The final report reflects estimates that are 5% “below the current average compensation of workers”.

“As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, it is time for the City of Concord to negotiate fairly with its firefighters” stated Union President Cory Clark. “We are not looking to get rich, we just want to be able to provide for our families”.

The Concord Firefighters have been working without a contract since July 1st . The firefighters’ last contract was negotiated in 2004, when gasoline was about $1.50 per gallon. Since then, gasoline has increased 63%, home heating oil 118% and milk 20%. Cost of living increases received by firefighters have not kept pace with the rising cost of consumer goods, especially gasoline and healthcare. Since the expiration of their contract, firefighters have continued responding to emergency calls “in our usual professional manner” according to President Clark. Clark made it clear that this will not change and that citizens can expect to continue receiving the usual high level of service from firefighters.

“All we are looking for is a fair contract” Clark stated. “These firefighters and dispatchers serve Concord day and night, but they can’t provide for their families. That just isn’t fair or reasonable”.

For additional information, please contact:

John DeJoie (603)682-8531
Elisa Folsom (603)860-9544

The Concord Firefighters Union has been proudly serving the citizens of Concord for over 50 years. There are 72 firefighter EMT and Firefighter/Paramedics, 8 fire dispatchers and a Fire Alarm Traffic Technician.

The Fire Department serves New Hampshire’s capital city, with a population of nearly 50,000 residents. Daytime population increases significantly to as much as 90,000 people. The Concord Fire Department received more than 7,500 calls for service in 2006. In 2007, calls for service are on pace for over 8,000 calls.

Concord Fire Department staffs and operates 4 Fire Engines, 1 Ladder Truck and 3 Ambulances.