The layoffs for four Barberton firefighters/paramedics set to go into effect Wednesday have been suspended until next month.
During a meeting Wednesday afternoon with the city’s four unions, the city administration and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 329 signed a memorandum of understanding suspending the four layoffs until March 1, Barberton Mayor Bill Judge said.
Judge said the four firefighters weren’t scheduled to work Wednesday, so their schedules weren’t interrupted.
The firefighters union gave up some concessions Wednesday, said Judge, who said more future discussions are planned. The city has already reached an agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 265, and Judge said he doesn’t foresee seeking any additional concessions from that union.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, the union posted about the scheduled layoffs on social media, saying it would be the first time in the 117-year history of the department, which currently has more than 40 firefighters, that firefighters/paramedics would be let go. The union has argued that laying off the firefighters won’t save money because the city will end up paying more for overtime to cover shifts.