These Houston firefighters are suing the city over their contract

The Houston firefighters union and the City Council have been going back and forth for months disputing an employment contract for the city’s firefighters and, on Wednesday, the Council finally approved one that prompted a lawsuit.

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A temporary employment contract was in place, but that ends on Friday, the end of this fiscal year. The new contract offers less than the previous one: less flexible overtime and holiday pay, and no further contribution by the city into the firefighter’s medical fund. These changes led the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association to file suit. The city of Houston currently employs around 3,800 firefighters, according to the Houston Press.

This is the second lawsuit filed by the union. The first was after Houston’s pension reform plan got through the Texas legislature. It lowered the retirement benefits of city employees, which includes firefighters. The lawsuit did not prevent the governor’s signature on the plan in May. In the latest lawsuit, the union wants the city to enter into arbitration proceedings. So far, it has refused to do so.

Firefighters and members of the union rallied outside City Hall after Wednesdays meeting to protest. Members of the International Association of Firefighters were also in attendance.

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