OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Oklahoma City Council votes to avoid an election over the firefighters’ union contract.

Negotiations have been tough while the city grapples with budget cuts.

According to a release the sales tax revenue has been dropping, so the city asked the firefighters union to make some concessions in order to balance the budget. Firefighters made their offer.

“They felt that their offer was fair, that they were not asking for a wage increase this year because they obviously realize the city’s financial restraints,” Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant said.

Negotiations fell flat even with the help of an arbitrator. So the situation was heading to a special election January 10th where citizens would make the final call on the contract.

“That’s never happened here, in the city’s history ever,” Bryant said.

Tuesday city council voted to avoid that election, finally making way for a resolution.

“Everybody realized it would not have been a positive thing to go to that election,” Bryant said.

City officials say times are tough across the board with midyear cuts approved for several city departments.

“Right now we’re having to take some steps like all the departments are in terms of looking at the services they deliver and what maybe services that they can reduce or cut back on in order to operate in the current revenue that we’re getting,” Bryant said.

Oklahoma City Council is expected to formally accept the unions’ final labor contract offer at their meeting December 20th.OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Council votes to avoid an election over the firefighters’ union contract.

Negotiations have been tough while the city grapples with budget cuts.

According to a release the sales tax revenue has been dropping, so the city asked the firefighters union to make some concessions in order to balance the budget. Firefighters made their offer.

“They felt that their offer was fair, that they were not asking for a wage increase this year because they obviously realize the city’s financial restraints,” Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant said.

Negotiations fell flat even with the help of an arbitrator. So the situation was heading to a special election January 10th where citizens would make the final call on the contract.

“That’s never happened here, in the city’s history ever,” Bryant said.

Tuesday city council voted to avoid that election, finally making way for a resolution.

“Everybody realized it would not have been a positive thing to go to that election,” Bryant said.

City officials say times are tough across the board with midyear cuts approved for several city departments.

“Right now we’re having to take some steps like all the departments are in terms of looking at the services they deliver and what maybe services that they can reduce or cut back on in order to operate in the current revenue that we’re getting,” Bryant said.

Oklahoma City Council is expected to formally accept the unions’ final labor contract offer at their meeting December 20th.

From KOKH