Where do things stand with Houston fireman' brand-new $650 million settlement contract?

HOUSTON (BNN) – – BNN is continuing to follow conversations surrounding the city's brand-new contract agreement with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters' Association. BNN Houston's Paige Hubbard has been following the problem closely and is recapping what unfolded this week concerning the historical multi-million dollar deal.

On Monday, March 18, District J Council Member Edward Pollard and District F Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas gotten in touch with Houston Mayor John Whitmire to provide more insight into the new labor arrangement with the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association.

We need to know so we can comprehend, how did they get to this point and offer some genuine transparency and accountability to the taxpayer.

District J Council Member Edward Pollard

Under the brand-new deal, fireman are getting a $650 million settlement for back pay dating back to 2017. On top of that, Houston fireman are receiving a 5 year pay raise that's increasing their wages by 34% to name a few benefits.

The council members stated given that they have gotten minimal engagement from Whitmire about the issue, they decided to send him a letter revealing their issues.





Their concerns range from "what role did the fire chief have in negotiations?" "How is the payout validated?" "How will the settlement impact the city's budget in the long run?"

When I'm not able to justify the absence of capital improvement job, however the public is getting a news release around $650 million, nearly a billion-dollar package. I'm unable to go back to my citizens that I represent and tell them the pathway of how we got there. So, the letter and its intent is just being equipped with the information so we can tell Houstonians, how we are serving in their best financial interests.

District F Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas

Houston's city attorney has stated the strategy is to utilize a bond to spend for the settlement and have taxpayers pay it off over the next two or 3 decades.

On Tuesday, March 19, BNN spoke to Houston Professional Fire Fighters President Marty Lancton who shared his ideas about the council members' concerns.

You understand, it's a bit uncomfortable or difficult, I think, that these council members appear to want to politicize this problem.

Houston Professional Fire Fighters President Marty Lancton

Lancton believes the settlement was made in the best interest of the city, the fireman and public safety.

" I believe the time is now to move on together. I believe and I hope that those council members comprehend that exacerbating a problem only makes it even worse for the city's monetary stability," said Lancton.

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After those interviews were recorded on Tuesday, the next day the mayor and council talked at length about the questions surrounding the arrangement throughout a city board conference.

Mayor Whitmire expressed he invites any questions's relating to the pending contract.

It likewise allows us to maintain and recruit EMS and fire fighters. These are tough discussions and I desire to thank the stakeholders," Whitmire stated in the most recent City Council conference.

The city and the mayor lawyer stated they could not talk about the terms of negotiations publicly while they were at the barging table because legal counsel advised them not to do so.

It was stated that specific information could be gone over in private now that a contract has been reached.

Throughout Wednesday's council meeting Mayor Pro-Tem and District K councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum attended to the narrative that the problem was not confronted by the previous council.

We require to be clear; I don't like that we talk about ‘‘ kicking the can down the roadway' or whatever colloquialism we utilize but I believe that half of us were here in the last administration, and we know that there was a stalemate. I believe both sides wished to get to an agreement, and they couldn't. Not just the fire but the administration fighters also. So, I value that both sides have actually now come back to the table, however I believe it requires to be specified that there was a stalemate.

Mayor Pro-Tem and District K councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum

Other council members went on to thank the mayor for discovering an option.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mayor Pro-Tem and District K councilwoman Martha Castex-Tatum gotten in touch with the City Attorney to describe what council can expect moving forward as it connects to the offer.

You can listen to that description below.

CITY BOARD'S FULL DISCUSSION

To hear Houston City Council's FULL discussion about the fireman' agreement, watch the video listed below.

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