Monarch Firefighters & Paramedics Granted Motion of Summary Judgement in Legal Action by Fire District Board

December 3, 2015, St. Louis, Missouri… Monarch Firefighters and Paramedics, who are members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2665 serving St. Louis County, have been granted a Motion of Summary Judgement in a legal action initiated by the Monarch Fire Protection District board of directors against Local 2665.

St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Joseph L. Walsh granted the Motion of Summary Judgement requiring the fire protection district to honor terms of its existing collective bargaining agreement with Local 2665 as negotiations continue with the firefighters/paramedics to establish acceptable terms of a new agreement.

In late 2013, the district initiated action against Local 2665 in an effort to modify terms of the collective bargaining agreement that was due to expire on December 31, 2013, and negotiations for a new agreement would begin, but the agreement’s “evergreen’ clause” – Section 5.02 -- prevented the district from modifying any terms. The district wanted to modify aspects of the agreement concerning firefighter/paramedic work hours, paid vacations, sick leave and related matters.

So-called “evergreen clauses” in collective bargaining agreements ensure that the current agreement will remain in full force and effect during negotiations for a new agreement.

IAFF Local 2665 filed a request with the St. Louis Circuit Court for Motion of Summary Judgement in the matter in August 2015.

In his order granting the motion, Judge Walsh wrote that Section 5.02 of the bargaining agreement constitutes a provision in Missouri law that is sanctioned by the Missouri Constitution and the Missouri Supreme Court, and that Section 5.02 of the existing collective bargaining agreement between the district and Local 2665 “is not void as against public policy…”

Brent Coleman, Captain at the Monarch Fire Protection District and Local 2665 Shop Steward, said, “Monarch firefighters and paramedics hope the court’s order granting Motion of Summary Judgement resolved this issue. We hope it ends the Monarch Fire Protection District’s expenditures of time and taxpayers’ money in this matter so that we can negotiate terms of a new agreement in a timely matter.”

“But, apparently, that won’t be the case,” Coleman said. On November 24, the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors filed to appeal Judge Walsh’s decision before the Missouri Court of Appeals.

“The district’s move to appeal the Motion of Summary Judgement with the Missouri Court of Appeals will result in more expenditure of time and taxpayers’ money in this matter, and may potentially complicate and delay negotiations of the new collective bargaining agreement,” Coleman said.

“Monarch firefighters and paramedics who are members of IAFF Local 2665 want to assure all citizens and businesses in our district that we will continue to respond to all emergency calls we receive for first response and fire suppression services without any delays or disruption of service,” Coleman said.

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