HOUSTON (AP) — The City of Houston has reached a tentative deal with its firefighters’ union on a 30-month labor agreement that includes a 4 percent pay raise in January but limits how vacations can be used.
The agreement, which still awaits approval by rank-and-file firefighters, would eliminate vacation banking that allows firefighters to use unused vacation days of co-workers. It also tightens restrictions how many firefighters can be approved for vacation at any given time and how many can be guaranteed any given holiday.
An attendance review board also would be set up to recommend discipline for excessive unscheduled absences.
The existing contract expires June 30. The new contract would take effect July 1 and expire Dec. 31, 2016.
