The Kern County Administrative Office has delayed, for now, a plan to reduce staffing at nine largely rural fire stations after the Kern County Firefighters union objected.
"The union requested a 'meet and confer' on the staffing adjustment late last Friday afternoon. We've temporarily delayed implementation due to their request," County Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop said in an email Monday.
"We felt like there was a need for further discussions," said Kern County Firefighters President Derek Robinson.
The county plan to reduce "constant" staffing at nine stations from three firefighters to two was announced last week and set to take place Monday.
County officials have the ability to reduce staffing in a fiscal emergency under a contract with the Kern County Firefighters, which it was planning to invoke. But union President Derek Robinson challenged whether the county truly faces a fiscal emergency.