City attorney: Bartlesville proposals seek merit promotions and sick‑leave reforms in firefighters' talks

City attorney Jess Cain updated the Bartlesville City Council on the status of contract negotiations with the professional firefighters’ local, saying talks have continued without resolution and the city’s offer includes pay and work‑rule changes.

Cain said the city’s most recent proposal, submitted Sept. 26, would give firefighters a 5% across‑the‑board pay increase, move promotion criteria from seniority to merit and change sick‑leave and overtime rules. "The union currently stands with a proposal that gives them a 6.5% raise," Cain said, adding the union has refused to negotiate promotions or sick‑leave changes.

Cain and staff presented comparative data they said show Bartlesville firefighters use more sick leave than peers. Cain said the city’s analysis covers multiple years and indicated about 188 hours of sick leave per firefighter (based on a six‑year window) and that the department’s sick‑leave usage is significantly higher than comparable departments.

"We are offering 5% raise to our firefighters in these negotiations," Cain told the council, and said the proposed merit‑based promotion system aims to provide incentives for attendance and performance. Cain argued the current seniority‑based system reduces incentives to show up and contributes to callback overtime costs.

Council members asked about evidence, disciplinary options and whether the city has tracked outcomes from prior changes. Cain said tracking outcomes is limited but described anecdotes and patterns the city believes demonstrate misuse; he also described the grievance process and the potential for arbitration if disciplinary actions are contested.

No formal action was taken; Cain said an arbitrator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is now assigned and the city is scheduling arbitration dates while remaining open to negotiation.