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Rochester Hills firefighters move to arbitration after talks stall; union leaders and mayor address council
Summary
Rochester Hills Professional Firefighters Local 3472 told council they filed for arbitration after impasse on economic terms, chiefly a proposed shift in overtime calculation; union leaders and allied nurses spoke during public comment and Mayor Barnett outlined the city's recent offer and urged continued talks.
Union leaders representing Rochester Hills firefighters told the City Council on Monday that bargaining over wages and overtime reached an impasse and the union has moved toward arbitration and filed an unfair labor practice charge.
Derek Gardner, president of Rochester Hills Professional Firefighters Local 3472, said the central disagreement concerns a proposed change to how overtime is calculated. The city has proposed moving from a 14‑day, 106‑hour overtime standard to a 28‑day, 212‑hour standard. Gardner and other union leaders told the council that change, without protective language used in neighboring municipalities, would reduce overtime pay for many firefighters.
Several union officers and members addressed the council during public comment, pressing for a negotiated settlement and warning that arbitration…
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