Kalispell union pulls out of Evergreen election

The International Association of Fire Fighters union has withdrawn from an organizing election in Evergreen.

IAFF Local 547 decided to withdraw after Evergreen Fire Rescue’s attorney filed a motion to have the firefighters union disqualified from the ballot. Local 547 represents Kalispell firefighters.

Rather than hold up Evergreen firefighters’ efforts to organize their labor force, the IAFF decided to withdraw, Local 547 Secretary F. Ray Ruffatto said Wednesday.

The legal motion was filed based on a technicality, Ruffatto said. An article in the local union’s constitution and bylaws said it pertains to Kalispell firefighters. It would have taken 30 to 60 days to adjust the wording, he said.

Ballots have been mailed to 26 Evergreen Fire Rescue firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The deadline to return them is June 6.

Evergreen Fire Chief Craig Williams said the ballot still includes the Montana Public Employees Association.

“We are frustrated as a district because there’s nothing more we can give them,” Williams said. He believes the unionization effort is “all about wages.”

That contrasts with the statement of firefighter Cameron Bradley, who told the Daily Inter Lake last month that the election was not about money.

“We don’t expect more money,” he said at the time. “It’s about a seat at the table and providing better service.”

Bradley described joining a union as a way to increase working hours without costing the department more money. Referring to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Bradley said the firefighters could work 212 hours over 28 days without being paid overtime. Currently, Evergreen firefighters normally work 28 to 36 hours a week and do not get health insurance.

Evergreen firefighters get paid considerably less than their counterparts in Kalispell. EMTs are paid $8 an hour and paramedics $15 an hour. Kalispell firefighters get paid $16.83 to $27 an hour plus benefits.

“We are moving forward as quickly as we can [as a fire district], but it’s been baby steps,” said Williams, who was the first employee hired by the district back in 2004. He remained the sole employee for one year, he said. Williams became the fire chief in 2008.

The salaries of Williams, Fire Marshal Ben Covington and administrative assistant Tara Chapman are paid by property taxes. These three employees would not be in the union.

Williams emphasized that no tax dollars are involved in paying the remaining 26 firefighters. They are paid through ambulance revenue.

“The FLSA [hour] exemption can be warranted,” Williams said. “It’s just not the right time to do that. We have to have plans in place before we continue at this rapid rate.”

Increasing firefighters’ pay would require passing a property-tax mill levy, he said. “I think it would be ridiculous right now to ask the taxpayers for additional wages ... due to the economy.”