Oklahoma's high court rules in city of Stillwater's favor
STILLWATER, Okla. — Stillwater doesn’t owe city firefighters a 6.1 percent raise, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has unanimously decided.
The case stems from a July 2008, two-year contract between the city and International Association of Fire Fighters Union Local 2095. The contract called for a wage adjustment in the second year of the contract. Stillwater officials offered a 3 percent raise, and union representatives wanted a 6.1 percent raise, based upon wages of similar-size fire departments in the state.
Eventually, an arbitration board ruled the union deserved a 6.1 percent raise. District Judge Donald L. Worthington upheld the arbitration ruling, and city officials appealed Worthington’s ruling to the state Supreme Court.
Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed the arbitration board and Worthington.
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2095 President Jay Willis said the Supreme Court’s decision surprised Stillwater firefighters.
“We felt the arbitration board and district judge followed state law ...,” he said.
Willis said the union is talking with its attorney, Steven R. Hickman of Tulsa, to decide if any more court action is warranted.
The Supreme Court looked at previous cases to rule a previous year’s agreement cannot be used to set a subsequent year’s salaries, Assistant City Attorney Larry Simmons said.
The Supreme Court cited a 1990 city of Tulsa court decision, which determined a municipality wasn’t obligated to continue paying its employees under a wage provision in an expired collective bargaining agreement until a new agreement was reached.
The firefighter’s union has ratified a new contract with the city of Stillwater. Councilors have not voted on the contract, yet, Willis said.
The case stems from a July 2008, two-year contract between the city and International Association of Fire Fighters Union Local 2095. The contract called for a wage adjustment in the second year of the contract. Stillwater officials offered a 3 percent raise, and union representatives wanted a 6.1 percent raise, based upon wages of similar-size fire departments in the state.
Eventually, an arbitration board ruled the union deserved a 6.1 percent raise. District Judge Donald L. Worthington upheld the arbitration ruling, and city officials appealed Worthington’s ruling to the state Supreme Court.
Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed the arbitration board and Worthington.
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2095 President Jay Willis said the Supreme Court’s decision surprised Stillwater firefighters.
“We felt the arbitration board and district judge followed state law ...,” he said.
Willis said the union is talking with its attorney, Steven R. Hickman of Tulsa, to decide if any more court action is warranted.
The Supreme Court looked at previous cases to rule a previous year’s agreement cannot be used to set a subsequent year’s salaries, Assistant City Attorney Larry Simmons said.
The Supreme Court cited a 1990 city of Tulsa court decision, which determined a municipality wasn’t obligated to continue paying its employees under a wage provision in an expired collective bargaining agreement until a new agreement was reached.
The firefighter’s union has ratified a new contract with the city of Stillwater. Councilors have not voted on the contract, yet, Willis said.
(This article is from the Stillwater NewsPress, July 7th 2010. You can find the original article here.)
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