City on hook for millions to firefighters

By Juan Perez Jr.
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha will likely be forced to pay millions in additional back wages to its firefighters because of a judge's recent ruling.

It's unclear just how much money the city owes. Or where it will come from.

City officials are sorting out the financial implications of part of Douglas County District Judge Peter Bataillon's ruling, issued in a 2009 lawsuit filed by the city's fire union.

"We are estimating it is in the millions, but the actual dollar number has not been calculated," said City Finance Director Pam Spaccarotella.

It will be good news for some firefighters.

"A good number of people are going to get pay increases," said Assistant City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch. "It's not everybody, obviously, but if you were relatively recently promoted in rank, the chances of you getting a pay increase are relatively good."

Bataillon rejected the way the city had implemented a ruling by the state's labor court on fire pay scales for 2008.

He agreed with the fire union that the city's interpretation didn't comply with a 1962 city ordinance.

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