Brockhouse: Time for the fire union to start negotiating new contract

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A supporter of the firefighters’ union during contract negotiations with the city is now calling on the union to come to the table.

San Antonio city councilman Greg Brockhouse sent a letter to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association saying it was time for the union to face the hard truth.

“I am calling on you, the men and women of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, to return to the negotiating table and begin the process of rebuilding trust,” the councilman wrote.

Brockhouse said all of the conditions the union set to restart negotiations.

“It’s time we all work together to finalize a new contract for our firefighters,” he said in a statement to KTSA News.  “The citizens spoke at the ballot box, a new city manager has been identified and the city has dropped its perennially losing lawsuits.  All the ingredients are present to get back to the table and begin negotiating.”

On the city side, Brockhouse said there are real changes being made at City Hall, calling the lone city manager finalist, Erik Walsh, a “fair and just man.”

“Erik understands the fiscal toll that out of control pay and benefits can take on the city budget and he also understands the physical and emotional toll the lack of fair compensation and adequate benefits can have on first responders and their families,” the councilman wrote to the firefighters.  “I honestly believe he will negotiate in good faith.”

He called on the union to schedule a meeting, saying it has already won and it can win again by being the bigger group by restarting negotiations.