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The city of Fort Worth has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its firefighters after a lengthy bargaining process.<\/p>\n
Glen E Ellman<\/p>\n
Fort Worth Fire Department via Facebook<\/p>\n
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\u2019s what to know:<\/p>\n
The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association ratified a contract with the city on Sept. 23, union president Zac Shaffer told the Star-Telegram.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The union declared an impasse with the city of Fort Worth<\/a> in July over \u201ccritical safety issues\u201d and a failure to negotiate in good faith.\u201d<\/p>\n The city previously said that the union proposed a $152 million contract<\/a> that would \u201csignificantly increase costs\u201d 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\u2019s staffing and benefits.<\/p>\n Neither the union nor the city could confirm the total cost of the ratified agreement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Fort Worth city leaders weighed in on the agreement Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d Fort Wort City Council member Elizabeth Beck told the Star-Telegram.<\/p>\n Council member Charlie Lauersdorf said that the city was committed to public safety with the new agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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,\u201d Lauersdorf said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the city of Fort Worth declined to comment until the council votes on the contract.<\/p>\n