Greenfield Firefighters Union Files Lawsuit Against City

Local 1963, the Greenfield fire union, and the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, have sued the city hoping a judge will stop Greenfield from forcing it to choose between two health insurance plans by a city-imposed deadline of today.

The union filed the injunction yesterday hoping a judge grants it more time to decide between two options that are very different than what members are used to now.

Lawyers from both sides were at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on Tuesday morning.

In recent weeks, Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke asked both the police and fire unions to voluntarily contribute 12.6 percent to their health insurance plans as well as 5.9 percent to their pensions to be in line with all other city employees mandated contributions as a result of Acts 10 and 32.

Neitzke said the voluntary contributions from both unions were necessary to make up a $500,000 shortfall in the 2012 budget.

As an alternative to the voluntary contributions, the city designed another health plan, as allowed by additional legislation or a “tool” given to municipalities by Gov. Scott Walker. That plan, by law, is non-negotiable.

According to the complaint, the following contract changes under Option A would take effect Jan. 1:

• All firefighters personally contribute 5.9 percent to their pensions.
• Increase the employee’s premium contribution for family coverage in the city’s group health insurance plan from 9 percent to 12.6 percent with no dollar cap on the contribution
• Increase office visit co-pays from $10 to $25
• Increase emergency room co-pays from $75 to $200
• Add specialist co-pays of $50; and
• Increase drug co-pays from $10 for generic, $15 for formulary brand and $25 for non-formulary brand to $10/$25/$50.

Under the second option, known as Option B, the health care plan changes would be:

• Deductibles increased to $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per family with the employee paying 100 percent
• Patients to pay 40 percent coinsurance on charges in excess of deductibles, and;
• Out of pocket maximums of $20,000 per individual and $40,000 per family.

Last week, the , or Option A.

According to the claim filed Monday, representatives of Local 1963 has proposed the union might accept the insurance changes in Option A, but not the individual pension contributions, but city representatives have said it’s an-all-or-nothing package.

Local 1963 voted against accepting Option A on two separate occasions, , who stand to lose out in a big way financially under Option B.

With that, Ben Granberg the city's human resources manager, presented Option B to the Finance and Human Resources Committee meeting Sept. 28, and the committee in turn was expected to recommend Option B to the

Stay tuned to Greenfield Patch for more details and reactions throughout the day.