City Of Tulsa Settles Lawsuit With 13 Firefighters Over Unpaid Overtime

The City of Tulsa has settled a lawsuit against them filed by 13 Tulsa firefighters.

The lawsuit said the firefighters stopped getting paid for overtime they worked in 2021.

The city settled for $1,060,000. However, the firefighter’s union said this settlement isn’t finished yet.

Thirteen firefighters sued the city, the mayor, and the city's chief operations officer.

The lawsuit said firefighters work regularly scheduled overtime as part of their shift work, but that overtime stopped being paid in April 2021.

It also said firefighters who picked up extra overtime shifts when they were short staffed were not being paid as quickly as required.

The overtime started being paid again in 2022.

“We accepted the legal council’s recommendation to approve a settlement for the firemen," said City Councilor, Jayme Fowler.

The city agreed to settle for a little more than $1 million in overtime pay, damages, and attorney fees.

Fowler said this should not have happened. "There have been changes made to make sure that doesn't happen again," Fowler said.

In a statement, Tulsa Firefighter Union President, Matt Lay, said this is a “significant step forward,” but not over until it's approved.

Fowler said he and other city councilors care deeply about Tulsa firefighters and the firefighters were in the right.

“Our first responders, firemen, do a tremendous job," Fowler said. "They’re one of the better fire departments in the country and we’re so proud to have them, and we're glad they serve us each and every day.”

The final terms of the settlement are still being figured out and a judge will have to approve it before it’s finalized.