Despite union vote on jobs deal, HFD rift with city remains

In a close vote, the Houston firefighters' union decided Saturday to ratify a three-year contract proposal from the city, saving the fire department from layoffs and closing a $10 million hole in the mayor's budget.

Union members passed the contract by a 1,560 to 1,391 vote.

The deal saves 236 firefighters from layoffs in 2012, but concessions include a two-year pay freeze and a 1 percent raise in 2014. Also under the agreement, the firefighters who leave the department will no longer receive their accrued time off paid in a lump sum, but instead spread over four years.

The ratification comes only a few days before the City Council is slated to approve Mayor Annise Parker's $1.8 billion budget.

Parker sought to reduce the fire department's $449 million budget by $17.7 million. Tense negotiations between the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and the mayor on how to make those cuts have taken several months.

HPFFA President Jeff Caynon said in a prepared statement that although the union believes the deal was better than the city's first offer, the approval was difficult.

"As the close vote indicates, our members remain concerned about the Parker Administration's hostility toward firefighters," Caynon stated.

The new labor deal was constructed in May. Under the city's original offer, firefighters would receive no raises for the next two years, but a raise of 2 percent each in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The city also wanted the department to smooth out vacation scheduling by restricting how many firefighters can take time off during summer and holiday months, a time when the city pays millions of dollars in overtime to cover the shifts while so many employees are out. The union refused the package in part because they refused to give up current vacation polices.

Parker, who had to bridge a $75 million budget gap in a proposal that goes to City Council on Wednesday, said in a prepared statement that she was disappointed that the union's negotiators rejected a long-term agreement in favor of a short-term one "with little to offer either side." But she thanked the rank-and-file for helping the city in tough economic times.

"Their ratification of this new contract will prevent the layoff of any additional city employees and provide significant relief to help close the books on the budget for the coming fiscal year," she stated.

Both parties said they are glad to have reached a resolution and put negotiations behind them for this year.

Staff writer Chris Moran contributed to this report.

anita.hassan@chron.com

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