Houston fire department trying to avoid layoffs

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Intense negotiations between Houston city leaders and the firefighters union are entering the 11th hour and firefighters' jobs are at stake. The cash-strapped city and the union both agree that concessions are in order, but so far they have yet to reach a compromise on the nature of those concessions.

The talks got underway at around 10am. The union is worried that hundreds of firefighters could lose their jobs today.

At least 238 firefighters have already been put on notice that if the city and the union cannot come to an agreement, they will be laid off. The fight is over the nature of cuts that had already been agreed upon last week.

On Friday, it appeared the city and the union were in agreement over an estimated $13 million in cuts, but the union says it wants the cuts to be temporary, and to be reversed as the city's financial situation improves. The city says it wants them to be permanent.

Firefighters say any reduction in their numbers will put lives at risk.

"I need every one of those men and women with me on the job and on the line and so in that respect, I would be at risk, very much so, as would all of my other firefighters on scene with me," said Houston Firefighter Scott Wilke.

"It really doesn't make sense when you are saying we're going to do badly for two years and then by the city's own estimates and by their five year projection, we are going to do better in years 3, 4 and 5," said Jeffrey Caynon with the Houston Professional Firefighter's Union. "So why do you still need concessions from firefighters if you're going to do better?"

These talks could go on all day if a handshake agreement isn't reached the mayor has said layoffs will follow.

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