The city of Fort Worth has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its firefighters after a lengthy bargaining process.
Glen E Ellman
Fort Worth Fire Department via Facebook
The city of Fort Worth and the union representing its firefighters have reached a tentative agreement on a contract after a months-long bargaining process. Here’s what to know:
The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association ratified a contract with the city on Sept. 23, union president Zac Shaffer told the Star-Telegram.
The Fort Worth City Council is expected to vote on the new contract at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 29, a spokesperson for the city of Fort Worth said.
The union declared an impasse with the city of Fort Worth in July over “critical safety issues” and a failure to negotiate in good faith.”
The city previously said that the union proposed a $152 million contract that would “significantly increase costs” ahead of a budget shortfall that the city was facing. The city said it offered the union a contract with $40 million in new investments that included a 20% salary increase over four years and changes to the department’s staffing and benefits.
Neither the union nor the city could confirm the total cost of the ratified agreement on Wednesday.
Fort Worth city leaders weighed in on the agreement Wednesday.
“It was not an easy process, but in the end, I think that the members of the 440 and city management were able to negotiate a contract that is beneficial to our firefighters and beneficial to our city,” Fort Wort City Council member Elizabeth Beck told the Star-Telegram.
Council member Charlie Lauersdorf said that the city was committed to public safety with the new agreement.
“In a tight budget year, some of the difficult decisions we face may at times suggest otherwise, but our commitment to public safety and to the men and women who serve Fort Worth has never changed,” Lauersdorf said.
The contract was ratified with a 97% to 3% vote, Shaffer told the Star-Telegram. Shaffer did not disclose what is in the new contract.
A spokesperson for the city of Fort Worth declined to comment until the council votes on the contract.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Emily Holshouser is a local news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.