Houston Chronicle
(TNS)
Jan. 3—After years of failed back-and-forth negotiations, Houston's new mayor followed up on his campaign promises and ordered an end to all the lawsuits and legal challenges against the Houston firefighters—paving the way for an end to the seven-year stalemate.
Mayor John Whitmire met with representatives of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association Wednesday morning and "within the first five minutes of the discussion, Mayor Whitmire directed City Attorney Arturo Michel to withdraw the appeal of the City's challenge to the court's consideration of past fiscal years 2018 through 2024 backpay. This begins the process of ending his predecessor's long-running court fight over fair pay and benefits for Houston firefighters," the mayor's office said in a press release.
"I want the City to remove itself from the court process as much as possible and focus on resolving this long-standing dispute as fairly and quickly as possible," said Whitmire. "I stated repeatedly on the campaign trail and in my inaugural address that our first responders will not have to fear court action during the Whitmire Administration. I am following through on that promise."
The move comes amid a years-long legal fight over the effects of 2018's Proposition B, the referendum that amended Houston's charter, guaranteeing that firefighters receive equal pay to similarly ranked police officers. The city, at the behest of Mayor Sylvester Turner, and the Houston Police Officers Union have been fighting the amendment's implementation, which critics say the city can't afford.
Mayor Whitmire and Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Patrick M. "Marty" Lancton both directed their respective lead attorneys, Michel and HPFFA attorney Troy Blakeney, to begin meeting this week and remain in constant contact until they reach an agreement.
At Mayor Whitmire's Tuesday inauguration ceremony, he stated that dealing with the city's first responders would be his top priority.
"Within 72 hours of taking office, Mayor Whitmire is moving forward to implement the promises he made to Houston firefighters during the campaign," Lancton said in a statement. "After eight years of acrimony, we are finally headed in the right direction. It is hard to express how much it means to Houston firefighters and their families to have a leader who respects them and will follow through on what he says."
In a 2019 State of the City address, former Mayor Sylvester Turner declared that he planned to give Houston firefighters a pay raise as long as the city could afford it. However, years later, the City of Houston and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association are still at a standstill, leading to the city firefighters working without a contract for the last seven years.
Last month, District Court Judge Lauren Reeder compelled city officials to renegotiate with the Houston firefighters union out of court, according to a report by the Houston Chronicle.
While still in the state senate, Whitmire sponsored a binding arbitration bill in the Texas legislature over the summer, garnering support among the union ahead of his mayoral win.
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