At a meeting earlier this week, the Asheville City Council voted unanimously to adopt a new ordinance reaffirming union members’ rights and protections in the city’s grievance process.
The ordinance guarantees city employees the right to have a union representative present during hearings – making Asheville the first municipality in North Carolina to codify that protection.
North Carolina has some of the strongest anti-labor laws in the United States, including a ban on collective bargaining for public employees. But with the new ordinance, Asheville’s action represents a significant safeguard for workers in a state where formal protections are limited.
“The city of Asheville passing this ordinance is a beautiful step in the right direction,” said Asheville Local 332 President Welcker Taylor, who worked with the council to ensure the ordinance was on the agenda.
Paying these young fire fighters what they’re owed is just the right thing to do. None of us took this job to get rich, but we didn’t take it to be poor either.
Ashevill Local 332 President Welcker Taylor
The ordinance comes as Local 332 is advocating for fair treatment for its newest members.
Last year, the City Council approved a 3% pay raise for Asheville’s fire fighters. Both the council and the Local understood the raise would apply to all fire fighters. An issue with the budgetary process, however, excluded 13 newly hired fire fighters from the increase. That means those fire fighters are making just over $17 an hour, despite working significantly more hours than most city employees.
“Paying these young fire fighters what they’re owed is just the right thing to do,” said Taylor. “None of us took this job to get rich, but we didn’t take it to be poor either.”
With those fire fighters now engaged in a grievance with the city, Local 332 worked with the City Council to ensure all fire fighters – and all city employees – had the right to union representation throughout the grievance process.
“For decades, Local 332 has participated in the grievance process at all levels,” said Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina President Scott Mullins, who joined Local 332 members in Asheville to voice his support for the ordinance. “That participation is a recognition of the fundamental role that unions play in protecting members’ rights and ensuring fair, consistent application of policy.”
“I want to thank the Council for their support of this important measure,” Mullins concluded.
For decades, Local 332 has participated in the grievance process at all levels. That participation is a recognition of the fundamental role that unions play in protecting members’ rights and ensuring fair, consistent application of policy.
Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina President Scott Mullins
While the pay dispute remains unresolved, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer thanked the fire fighters in attendance for raising this issue with the city’s elected representatives.
“I appreciate the fire fighters who came out to speak today and am glad we were all able to work together quickly to get this issue on our agenda,” said Manheimer. “Thank you all for your commitment to your city and your work.”
