Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Firefighters topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Avalos withdraws firefighters' 52‑hour charter amendment after large public turnout and union opposition
Summary
Supervisor Avalos introduced a charter amendment to remove a 48.7‑hour work‑week cap for firefighters and rely on collective bargaining; following sustained opposition from firefighters and unions the sponsor withdrew the measure and the committee tabled the item.
Supervisor John Avalos presented a charter amendment proposing to remove the charter’s specified average firefighter work week (48.7 hours) and allow collective bargaining to determine hours. Avalos said the change aimed to give future flexibility to negotiate schedules and budgets citywide.
A large turnout of firefighters and allied unions filled the chamber to oppose the proposal; speakers described long hours, fatigue, family hardship, cancer concerns and the operational risk of increasing hours without compensation. Representatives from the Labor Council, SEIU and multiple trade unions urged the committee to kill the measure, arguing bargaining is the proper forum and warning that a ballot measure targeted at a single bargaining unit would be divisive.
The committee heard several motions to table and to continue; initial roll calls did not produce a majority. After a brief recess, Supervisor Avalos withdrew the proposal. The committee then voted to table the item and encouraged continued discussions between the sponsor, labor leaders and the mayor to seek alternatives for cost savings without using the charter to target a single group.
