Firefighter's Union has Three Days To Review, Decide On New Agreement

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Friday morning, 147 firefighters and their families met at the fire training academy to get their layoff notices but by afternoon, it was a different story.

Those firefighters may now get to keep their jobs if the deal with the Mayor goes through.

The firefighters were not surprised, just disheartened, the last 147 hired, the first fired.

Hours later, in a Hail Mary of hope, a tentative deal between the union leadership and the city administration.

City Budget Breakdown

"We don't have a finished contract yet for our members to look at. As soon as we get one of those then we can take it around for them to look at," said Stan May, Tulsa Firefighters Local 176 President.

The contract is being drawn up. It calls for a 5.2% pay cut for all firefighters. The firefighters will have three days to look over the contract and then three days to vote.

"I have to have trust in them then something eventually is going to come up and we're gonna be able to vote," Teodoro Morales, Tulsa Firefighter.

"I would love to see them come to a vote. I think whenever this many lives are affected, not only the 147 firefighters but the number of lives in the community that will be affected. I think that the community deserves a vote as much as we do," said Freddy Chambers, Tulsa Firefighter.

1/22/2010 Related Story: City Of Tulsa Starts Issuing Layoff Notices

"Personally I would vote yes for the cut in pay just for the fact that I would stay here along with the other brothers and sisters that was laid off today. But mainly for the citizens of Tulsa," said Jason Dobson, Tulsa Firefighter.

But the vote will have to come quickly.

"It's encouraging. The members will have something to vote on. It's can we get it there by Friday? That's going to be kind of tough," May said.

Without a positive vote, the firefighters given pink slips this morning will have to hang up their hoses next Friday.

The Union will meet Wednesday and Thursday to decide whether to accept the offer.

If accepted all the layoff notice received Friday would be rescinded and those firefighters would not miss a single shift.