Colorado Springs firefighters fighting for a seat at negotiating table

In just over 30 days, voters in Colorado Springs will head to the polls for a city election. A big issue on the ballot is one that directly affects Colorado Springs Firefighters.

Issue 1 would allow the local firefighters union to participate in what’s called collective bargaining.

Currently, funding and salaries for Colorado Springs Fire Departments are decided by the city council and Mayor John Suthers.

Suthers says the issue “is an attempt to circumvent how the mayor and the city council resources ought to be allocated and say, ‘no, allocate them more favorably to us.'”

If passed, Issue 1 allows city firefighters to have a representative directly negotiate their pay with city leaders.

Representing the Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Association is John Roy. He says their push for this issue is focused on the uncertainty of future leaders.

“What we see a lot of times is with the high turnover in government, a lot of the reasonable decisions we’re making fall to the wayside or a new politician steps in and has a different agenda,” Roy says.

Suthers argues the city already sits down with city firefighters to hear out their concerns several times a year.

“They have a seat at the table. We listen to them very very carefully. Their efforts have paid off. We’re compensating them quite well,” Suthers says.

Voters will have their own say next month. The municipal election is on April 2 and ballots will be sent out in just over a week.