Attorneys for the state and the city firefighters union will have two court-approved mediation sessions this month to try to resolve issues regarding salary cuts and a possible 10 to 12 more layoffs.
Both parties were back in court Wednesday, as Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez reviewed state-proposed staffing and salary cuts for the Fire Department in the ongoing case between International Association of Fire Fighters Local 198 and state.
In December, Mendez delayed ruling on a second round of budgetary cuts proposed by the state to hear the department’s injunction request. Mendez in March 2017 allowed the state to make changes to the firefighters’ contract, including changes to hourly scheduling and health-insurance coverage, and cut staff 25 percent and pay 20 percent.