Careers & Education

After Six-Year Battle, NY City Will Hire 12 Firefighters

April 4, 2020

The Lockport firefighter union filed a grievance in 2014 after minimum staffing was reduced from nine to six.

By Thomas J. Prohaska

Source The Buffalo News

After losing four appeals, the city of Lockport will hire 12 firefighters.

The Lockport Common Council has committed to hiring 12 new city firefighters.

The all-Republican Council split 3-3 Wednesday on whether to appeal a February court ruling that upheld a state arbitrator's order calling for the hirings. Democratic Mayor Michelle M. Roman cast a tiebreaking vote against the appeal.

"We've already been committed. We've lost four appeals," Roman said Friday.

In 2014, the firefighters' union filed a grievance after the city reduced minimum staffing levels from nine to six on each of its four fire platoons. At the time, Lockport faced a financial crisis that was resolved with a state bailout.

The city budget contains no money for more firefighters, but Roman said Lockport will apply for a federal grant to pay part of their salaries and benefits for three years. If the grant isn't approved in full, Roman said she will negotiate with the union about hiring the 12 firefighters in stages.

Starting pay is $40,721 a year, according to the union contract.

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