The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to accept an arbitrator’s decision regarding a labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 157 (IAFF) and cancel a special election that had been set for Jan. 10.
With the vote, the Council clears the path to formally accept the IAFF’s final labor contract offer at the Council’s Dec. 20 meeting. The contract defines working conditions and other aspects of Oklahoma City firefighters’ jobs.
State law requires the City of Oklahoma City to negotiate a contract with the IAFF, which represents OKC’s firefighters, every year. This year’s negotiations were difficult because of a decline in sales tax revenue. Sales tax funds the City’s day-to-day operations, including public safety.
Background
Due to the sales tax revenue decline, the
City Manager required all departments to propose budget cuts for fiscal year 2016-17: 2.6 percent for the
Police and
Fire departments and 5.5 percent for all others. The City requested concessions from the IAFF during contract negotiations to balance the Fire Department’s budget.
The City formally declared an impasse after attempts to agree on a contract failed, which triggered arbitration. The City and IAFF then presented final offers to an arbitration board for a decision. The board chose the IAFF’s offer. The City Council had the option to accept the board’s decision or call a special election.
The Council voted in August to call a special election. Tuesday’s vote to accept the arbitration board’s decision allowed the Council to follow up with a vote to cancel the election.
The contract will be on the Council’s Dec. 20 meeting agenda for formal approval.
Accepting the arbitration board’s decision and the pending formal approval of the contract resolves the three remaining issues leftover from the failed negotiations: Rules for overtime pay will be unchanged, uniformed firefighter positions will remain part of the emergency service dispatch staff and the amount the City will pay toward the firefighters’ insurance fund has been settled.
Media Contact
Kristy Yager
(405) 297-2550 / (405) 863-2831
kristy.yager@okc.gov
