After being vetoed last December, Athens-Clarke County firefighters are once again asking the Mayor and Commission to recognize their union and to grant them collective bargaining powers.
Despite having a presence in Athens for around 15 years, the International Association of Firefighters is not recognized by the county government. The proposal would allow ACC firefighters to collectively bargain with the county government for salaries and benefits.
Last December, some commissioners argued that the proposal overrepresented firefighters’ issues over the concerns of other county employees, like police officers and EMS workers.
District 6’s Jesse Houle, who supported the firefighter’s union back in December, says the proposal has countywide benefits for firefighters and Athenians.
Commissioners also plan to vote Tuesday night on Fire Station #5’s replacement, authorizing the Site Selection Committee to identify potential sites for the new station. If passed, the committee will submit sites for the Mayor and Commission’s review.
