PHX Reporter

RBO is a rich and successful aspect of the Phoenix Fire Department’s history and culture.

This year marks the 34th Anniversary of our annual Relationships by Objective (RBO) annual Labor Management process. It is an important retreat that allows the Phoenix Fire Department and its partners in United Phoenix Fire Firefighters Association (U.P.F.F.A.) Local 493 to identify organizational priorities that affect our firefighters and civilian support staff. Labor management members work collectively on naming and achieving goals that are critical to helping our department thrive.

The process began in the late eighties after tumultuous challenges began to erode the relationship between fire labor and management.  The RBO process, which is now deeply institutionalized, begins with a labor management retreat during which both sides bring organizational priorities to the table.  Goals are identified and representatives from labor and management are assigned to find solutions. It allows the fire department to seamlessly come together on issues which effect our members.  

This year’s annual retreat was held at the city of Phoenix Burton Barr Pulliam Auditorium.  Approximately 75 members attended with the first order of business, to review the 2023 action items.  The event was also broadcast live on the Phoenix Fire Department’s Youtube Channel and social media.

Action items from this year’s event included development of a strategic plan, examining staffing automation, evaluating a wellness fitness initiative, reviewing the labor management team procedure, an assessment of nature code responses, healthy work hours and a work schedule assessment, career development, and a pilot program on firefighter fitness and injury prevention.

In the afternoon labor and management leaders discussed new action plans for 2024.  Some action items were carried over, such as the Strategic Plan Implementation and nature code response assessment. Others are new, such as staffing automation and integration, payroll efficiencies and solutions, developing internal and external workshops, and strategies for internal communication. Co-chairs representing labor and management were named for each new action plan. Each sub-committee will name quarterly goals and report regularly to labor management leadership.

Sometimes a group decision is not possible or not in one or both parties’ best interest. In those cases, the appropriate party (labor or management) will decide. The Fire Chief has the final decision-making authority for management decisions, and the Union President has the final decision-making authority for labor decisions. This is agreed upon by the participants and is a key to the effectiveness of labor/management process.

The beauty of the RBO process is that it is a “give and take” for both sides and the outcome usually represents what is best for the “greater good” of the organization. That is a win that both labor and management can always agree upon. 

Original source can be found here.