HOUSTON – Houston firefighters might have some help in their mediation with the city of Houston over Proposition B.
In November, voters approved Prop B, which would bring firefighters' pay in line with what police officers are paid.
Prominent attorney and Houston mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee has offered to help in the mediation process with the city for free.
The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association held a news conference with Buzbee Monday morning to discuss accepting his offer.
VIDEO: Tony Buzbee and firefighters association hold press conference
However, the city has not complied with Prop B and has filed legal action to prevent it from happening. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said it's not happening.
When Buzee was asked why he didn't like Turner, he responded, "I don't think I said I don't like the mayor. I think I said I'm not a fan of the mayor."
"Either we must implement Prop B or Prop B is void because it is pre-empted by state law. The court will ultimately decide," Turner said in a statement.
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LIVE Press Conference: #payparity High Power Lawyer Tony Buzbee will attempt to mediate settlement between Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and City of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner. KPRC2 / Click2Houston
Posted by KPRC2 Joel Eisenbaum on Monday, December 10, 2018
Turner's full statement below:
“There are many things the Houston Professional Firefighters Association and I agree on, including its recent written statement that ‘the voter-approved (Nov. 6) passage of Proposition B requires the city to bring firefighters pay (by rank) in line with that of Houston police officers’. This measure will cost the city more than $100 million each fiscal year.
“However on Nov. 30, state District Judge Kristen Hawkins ruled in favor of the Houston Police Officers Association and issued a Temporary Restraining Order to the implementation of Prop. B. HPOU showed in court ‘a reasonable probability of success on its request for declaratory judgment that the amendment to the charter of the City of Houston passed as Proposition B, is unconstitutional, invalid and void. In essence, it is preempted by state law.
“So either we must implement Prop B or Prop B is void because it is pre-empted by state law. The court will ultimately decide. Any salary negotiations, which the firefighters union is requesting is nothing more than a distraction and an attempt to confuse the issue."