Poll: Do You Think OKC Firefighters Should Get Raises?

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gary Copeland, the President of the International Association of Firefighters Local Union157, said Oklahoma City firefighters will wait another five days to hear if they will receive a 1.4 percent raise.

An arbitrator was brought in to decide if firefighters will receive the raise after the city and union were unable to reach an agreement. The deadline for the decision was set for 5 p.m. Monday, but the city has asked for an extension.

The city wants firefighters to keep the same contract they had last year rather than agree to a 1-point-4 percent raise.

"That has been our stance in previous years when there have been economic slowdowns," said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

City officials say there is not enough money in the budget to give firefighters a raise. All city employees are going without pay raises due to a drop in sales tax revenue.

"We are about 8 to 12 percent below what we have forecasted," said Mayor Cornett.

The local fire union's president said their predicament is also going up in flames.

"The work load on the firefighter has increased significantly. And he needs to be guaranteed the day off that he put in for that was approved 6 months ago," said Gary Copeland, the President of the International Association of Firefighters Local Union157. "It's just got to the point where it has to be fixed."

The mayor agrees it doesn't look good, but it's hard at a time when all city employees are going without raises.

"It is hard to staff a 24-7 department, especially under the stress these men and women are under. That said we have finite dollars and the union's demands are usually insatiable," Mayor Cornett said.

But the union's president said they offered the city options to fix the staffing issues, including forgoing a raise if the city hired more firefighters. But numerous negotiations failed, so now it's up to an arbitrator to decide if firefighters get a raise.

"I wish we could continue to work it out," Copeland said. "We don't want the raise because we know the quandary the city is in this year. We understand that, but we are also in a quandary."

Mayor Cornett said historically across the country, arbitrators have sided with unions on their decision. However, even if the arbitrator grants the firefighters a raise, the city can put it to a vote of the people.