January 16, 2012 · Exit133 · archive: txp/article

Police and Fire Jobs May Be Saved By Negotiations

The police and fire unions and the City may have hammered out a deal that could avert more than 100 public safety employee lay-offs.

According to an article from The News Tribune on Friday evening, negotiations have resulted in a proposed set of sacrifices by police and fire employees in exchange for saving their co-workers’ jobs. Because the agreement means concessions, the unions will need to vote on it. The police union is scheduled to vote tonight. Firefighters have votes scheduled for January 26 and 27; that’s a week after notices will go out to employees (by January 20th) in order to make the February deadline for layoffs.

The number of positions potentially saved by these negotiations still remains fuzzy. 100 public safety employees were initially set to be eliminated, but that number has now grown to 107 public safety employees, along with three municipal court positions, which depend on police work.

Before we get too carried away on the promising news of saved jobs, it’s important to keep in mind that this is round one. Layoffs so far, for public safety and other general fund programs, have only been based on 75% of the forecasted $31 million budget shortfall. The City will re-evaluate where we stand by March, and if the $31 million gap holds (or widens), there will be another round of cuts, which will most likely include further layoffs. Last week’s external audit of the City’s financial situation appears to have confirmed that $31 million is at best slightly optimistic, suggesting we’re in for more cuts.

The ride isn’t over yet.