Local International Association of Fire Fighters members did not receive the vote they anticipated from Shawnee city commissioners regarding approval of a five-part contract proposal.
Commissioners unanimously voted to reject the proposal citing economic struggles as the primary reason, officials said.
“The motion was made to reject the proposal and through commissioners’ conversation, it was really about the monetary factor,” Mayor Linda Peterson said. “We first had asked department heads to mind their budgets and now we’ve asked them to reduce. We decided we couldn’t say that out of one side of our mouths and then approve a contract that costs taxpayers money.”
Peterson said the motion, made by Vice Mayor Pam Stephens and seconded by Commissioner Frank Sims, only related to “anything with money attached.”
City Manager Brian McDougal said the city is “feeling the effects of the economic downturn now” and that commissioners said they “felt we needed to be prudent with tax dollars.”
James Gregory, IAFF local president, said he agrees the economic times are “tough and disappointing,” but said the decision of the commission was surprising to him.
“It was kind of a shock,” he said. “We fully expected it to pass.”
Gregory said negotiations began in March 2009 and a verbal agreement of the contract was reached with McDougal in October.
“With the holidays, it took a while to get it on the agenda,” he said. “But we thought it was OK.”
McDougal said he understood that portions of the proposal were intended to promote longevity within the department and that he would be “happy to discuss” it more in the future.
As for the union’s next step, Gregory said it will depend on an upcoming meeting and further discussion with the IAFF’s local membership. At that time, members will decide to “come to one agreement or another” and “see what to look at, what they want to do,” he said.
“We’re going back to the drawing board and see what we can come up with,” Gregory said.
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Local International Association of Fire Fighters members did not receive the vote they anticipated from Shawnee city commissioners regarding approval of a five-part contract proposal.
Commissioners unanimously voted to reject the proposal citing economic struggles as the primary reason, officials said.
“The motion was made to reject the proposal and through commissioners’ conversation, it was really about the monetary factor,” Mayor Linda Peterson said. “We first had asked department heads to mind their budgets and now we’ve asked them to reduce. We decided we couldn’t say that out of one side of our mouths and then approve a contract that costs taxpayers money.”
Peterson said the motion, made by Vice Mayor Pam Stephens and seconded by Commissioner Frank Sims, only related to “anything with money attached.”
City Manager Brian McDougal said the city is “feeling the effects of the economic downturn now” and that commissioners said they “felt we needed to be prudent with tax dollars.”
James Gregory, IAFF local president, said he agrees the economic times are “tough and disappointing,” but said the decision of the commission was surprising to him.
“It was kind of a shock,” he said. “We fully expected it to pass.”
Gregory said negotiations began in March 2009 and a verbal agreement of the contract was reached with McDougal in October.
“With the holidays, it took a while to get it on the agenda,” he said. “But we thought it was OK.”
McDougal said he understood that portions of the proposal were intended to promote longevity within the department and that he would be “happy to discuss” it more in the future.
As for the union’s next step, Gregory said it will depend on an upcoming meeting and further discussion with the IAFF’s local membership. At that time, members will decide to “come to one agreement or another” and “see what to look at, what they want to do,” he said.
“We’re going back to the drawing board and see what we can come up with,” Gregory said.
