New perks for Anchorage firefighters and Teamsters head to the Assembly

Anchorage firefighters and city Teamsters would get paid parental leave, credit for prior service when rehired, and easier holiday pay under two contract amendments before the Assembly.

Parental leave runs 160 hours for most workers and 224 for firefighters on Kelly schedules. Rehired employees who left within the past decade would keep their old service credit toward leave accrual. And the holiday-pay rule loosens: workers would forfeit it only if they miss part of the shifts right around a holiday, rather than any part of the full day before and after.

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance sent both agreements, which amend the Teamsters Local 959 and firefighters Local 1264 contracts. The administration cites a labor shortage and recruitment and retention trouble, and reports no significant economic effects. A public comment period is open before the Assembly votes.