14th Court of Appeals Orders Mediation in Prop B Case
In a seemingly never-ending cycle, the 14thCourt of Appeals today ordered the Houston Professionals Fire Fighters Association, the Houston Police Officers’ Union, and the City of Houston to head back to the mediation table within 60 days.
Last month a court ruled that the voter-approved Proposition B “pay parity” measure was unconstitutional. In response to that ruling, the administration rescinded the layoffs of 220 fire fighters.
“The court orders the appeal abated for a period of sixty days and refers the underlying dispute to mediation,” read today’s order. It gives any party involved the option of filing a written objection within 10 days.
The groups have already undergone one failed mediation over the subject.
Mayor Turner responded with the following statement:
“The parties met three different times in mediaiton with no success. While the most realistic course to move forward is to proceed with state authorized collective bargaining, which the firefighters requested from the legislature in 2005, the City of Houston will comply with the order to mediate.”
