Nine Battle Creek Fire Fighters Back After Being Laid Off

June 2, 2010 – Nine Battle Creek MI Local 335 fire fighters are back on the job after a two-week fight with the City over budget cuts.

“It is a relief to have everyone back on the job,” says Local 335 President Chris Love. “Now, we can go back to doing what we do best – protecting the City of Battle Creek and its citizens.”

After the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, discovered it had a $700,000 budget shortfall due to a state revenue sharing cut, City officials were able to make adjustments, reducing the budget shortfall to $285,000, and mandated that every City employee take 24 hours of furlough.

Battle Creek Local 335 fire fighters argued it was a bad idea to include fire fighters in the furlough mandate because staffing was already too low. The minimum staffing clause in the contract prevents furloughs and goes against the City’s civil service laws.

Because the mandate required a deviation from the contract, the City and Local 335 entered negotiations about the issue. Local 335 said no to the furlough and the City responded by laying off nine fire fighters and putting the City’s only ladder truck out of service.

Immediately, Local 335 implemented an informational picket in front of City Hall using off-duty fire fighters, fellow union workers and concerned citizens. The picket operated every day from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. In addition, Local 335 used other strategies, including media interviews, designed to put pressure on the City.

“After two weeks, the City agreed to come back to the negotiating table,” says Love. Local 335 agreed to take 20 hours of furlough and the City reinstated all nine fire fighters and returned the ladder company back to service.