Fort Worth City Council nears pension vote but employee support lacking
A compromise meant to fix a $1.6 billion pension gap lacked support from employee unions Tuesday as the Fort Worth City Council prepared to vote.
At 10:30 p.m. the council appeared stuck on compromise that includes the city contributing an additional 4.5 percent or about $21 million annually.
City employees would pay an average of 2.6 percent more toward their pension. The sticking point for council members and employes was a change to the retiree’s cost of living adjustment.
That change would give a 2 percent increase to the first $30,000 of a pension and a 1 percent increase after that for employees with 25 years or more.
Those with less would receive a 1 percent adjustment. Future retirees would not be eligible for a cost of living adjustment.
City employee unions said it’s not enough.
Manny Ramirez, president of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, said the compromise is a “step closer to fair and equitable.”
Changes to cost of living adjustment for retirees remained the only sticking point for his union, he said, and called on council to direct staff to renegotiate.
The pension package must pass a majority vote of all employees.
“It will likely fail,” Ramirez said.
Michael Glynn, president of the Fort Worth Firefighters Association, agreed.
“City mismanagement has caused this problem not your employees,” Glynn said. “Now you’re looking for a solution on the back of your employees.”
On the vote, councilmen Carlos Flores, Jungus Jordan and Cary Moon appeared to agree with the unions. Jordan made an emotional plea, saying the council “loved” city employees and should care for them.
“Once they’re retired they should be safe,” he said. “Their benefits should be protected.”
This story was originally published December 11, 2018 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Fort Worth City Council nears pension vote but employee support lacking."
