A judge on Wednesday turned down a request from the city's fire union to halt a policy that directs firefighters to clean up blood and bodily fluids at accident and medical scenes.
The Detroit Fire Fighter Association filed suit last month asking for an injunction until an unfair labor practices complaint over the newly inked rules could be resolved.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Hathaway made the ruling after a full day of testimony, directing that the dispute be handled by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission. A hearing is set for next week, said fire union President Mike Nevin.
"Our members and the public were done a great disservice today," Nevin said after the hearing. "Basically, (the judge) left us in limbo. We have no idea what doing out here."
The union, in its court filing, argued that the policy could expose crews to HIV, hepatitis or other blood-borne pathogens and was approved by top management, without bargaining or consideration by the labor-managed Health and Safety Committee.