Fire board President Chuck Bernstein cast the sole vote against a new contract that gives the Menlo Park Fire Protection District's non-firefighter union members 9 percent in raises over three years, plus more generous benefits, when the board met Tuesday night, Jan. 16.
The contract for members of the American Federation of State and Local Employees (AFSCME) union also includes a matching clause, a provision that automatically gives the 11 positions it covers increased benefits if the district's non-union employees (management and upper level administration) negotiate better benefits for themselves.
According to the state, the fire district already has the highest average wages of any state or local government agency.