The two sides met behind closed doors at the city manager's office for more than two hours. Fire fighters warn they'll picket if their demands aren't met. They want Chief Howard Giles gone.
The city manager, Norton Bonaparte, says the union members have a right to picket. He also says the meeting accomplished what it was supposed to. "It was a good opportunity for the union to voice specific concerns and they did that."
Local 83 Union President Kent Dederick says they want Chief Howard Giles replaced. "I can't see healing happening in this department until the administration is changed."
Bonaparte says that's not happening. "I am not about to fire Chief Giles. We are working to see how we can address these issues."
Union members passed a vote of no confidence against Chief Giles last week. They listed a laundry list of grievances, including a lack of communication. In a press conference Wednesday, Chief Giles said he has recommitted himself to communication.
Union executives have said their membership won't tolerate this much longer, and picketing could be weeks or days away. "I would fully expect to see some red shirts in picket lines at some point and time." Dederick says.
Next, Bonaparte says he will meet with Chief Giles and then again with the local Union Executive Board to try to work through these issues.