City of Atlanta, firefighters relationship frayed after breakdown in policy talks
The relationship between the City of Atlanta and its firefighters is currently fragile due to collapsed policy talks. The International Association of Fire Fighters (I.A.F.F.) reports a breakdown in communication with the city which has causes some first responders not receiving an already approved pay raise.
Breakdown in Communication
Nate Bailey, the president of the Professional Firefighters of Georgia, asserts that the main issue boils down to a breakdown in communication. “After that meeting, we got ghosted!” he vociferously complained. The relations between the firefighters, represented by IAFF Local 134, and city officials have notably frayed, leading to tension in Atlanta’s first-defense community.
Future Salary Raises Under Threat
Atlanta firefighters are possibly under the threat of not receiving pay increases in the future due to this strained relationship. The core issues revolve around internal policies that dictate how firefighters and EMTs could be paid. The fire union seeks to have a specific number of staffing on the trucks, to which the city administration seems reluctant to commit.
City Officials Must Convene
According to Bailey, if Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens fails to convene to discuss these policies promptly, there could be more complications. “We’re in the middle of fixing the payroll problems, but we had to put them on notice because if we don’t fix the internal fire department human resources policies, we are going to have to do it again. And they’ll quit,” Bailey warned. He further emphasized that their concerns go beyond budget items into fixing internal policies to forestall potential lawsuits against the city.
Negotiations on Hold
The ongoing negotiations with the city are currently suspended due to these disagreements. Atlanta City Council Member Michael Julian Bond expresses understanding of the firefighters’ frustrations.
“Using soft power, I am sure myself and other members of the Public Safety Committee, in particular, are reaching out to the administration to meet as soon as possible,” Bond responded. He clarified the delay stemmed from the city ordinance that necessitates a vote to nominate a representative for the firefighters. The delay, according to the mayor’s office, is due to this impending vote.
Overall, the situation presents a deadlock that needs immediate intervention to restore normalcy to the city’s emergency response systems and assure the fire department of their job security and deserved pay raises.
