Tulsa firefighters accept cuts to avoid layoffs
Published: 02/01/10 - 4:24pm Written by Dick Pryor
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Firefighters in Tulsa have agreed to a 5.2 percent pay cut and other concessions in an effort to avoid the layoff of 147 firefighters. Union officials said Sunday night that the vote was 442-177 to accept the proposal from Mayor Dewey Bartlett. The announcement comes just days after the city laid off 124 police officers and 59 civilian employees after their unions rejected pay cuts.
Bartlett is looking to offset a $10.4 million shortfall in this year's budget. The concessions agreed to by firefighters includes the pay cut for 17 months, eight unpaid furlough days and elimination of benefits such as fitness pay and a clothing allowance.


