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Abilene fire chief urges civility and cooperation after weeks of tough negotiations
Summary
Fire Chief Candy Flores praised the council for the emergency ordinance preserving pay, described morale strains after a difficult week of negotiations, and urged all parties to treat each other with dignity so they can return to productive bargaining.
Fire Chief Candy Flores told the City Council the last week had been "a rough 6 days," but she thanked elected officials for the emergency ordinance that preserves firefighters’ pay and benefits.
"I do wanna express my gratitude to council for initiating this emergency ordinance," Flores said, noting the action "wasn't something you had to do" and that protecting pay should "allow time for relationships to heal" so the city and the fire association can return to the table. She urged participants in the process to speak and act with civility and respect to find "a solution that is mutually beneficial to all involved."
Flores said her department has been doing "damage control" to keep tempers cooled and to reassure staff amid negotiations. She expressed hope an agreement would be reached in the near future and asked for continued cooperation from both sides.
The chief’s remarks framed the emergency ordinance as a short-term measure to maintain stability for firefighters and their families while longer-term negotiations proceed.
