LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The city of Little Rock reached agreements with firefighters and municipal employees Wednesday.
Local firemen from the International Association of Firefighters union agreed to a vote to do a trial period for a switch to their scheduling which had previously held negotiations up.
If enough of the Little Rock Fire Department agrees, they will begin working 48 hours on and 96 hours off instead of the 24 on 48 off they are currently working.
Local 34 union President Matthew Stalling did not answer how long the trial would be, when the vote would be held or if the trial would be at every station.
The city is moving away from the union representing their municipal employees after enough people wanted to split ways with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Departments with AFSCME non-uniform, union-eligible employees include Fleet Services, Finance, Housing and Neighborhood Programs, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development, Police, Public Works, Traffic Court, and the Zoo.
One employee choosing to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation said many within Public Works received a letter Wednesday morning saying they would be losing their pay raise and discretionary leave, but a meeting between the mayor and employee representatives changed that.
“Until it actually hits and until we actually see it in writing and it’s on the paycheck it’s just words at this point,” the employee said.
A spokesman for the office of Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said in a statement Wednesday the mayor decided to keep in place the monetary components of the previous contract, and that information has been relayed to employee advocates.
“We understand there is a union that will likely form, but it must go through the legal process first,” mayor’s office spokesperson Aaron Sadler said.
The only other union the city of Little Rock works with is the Fraternal Order of Police which already signed with the city in December.
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