FLINT -- Fed up with cuts to public safety, Flint Firefighters Union President Raul Garcia pledged to launch a recall campaign against Mayor Dayne Walling next week. This is after he found out that 23 of his firefighters have been cut from payroll after Walling said the public safety unions failed to reach concessions with his administration. The layoffs take affect Thursday, with two fire stations scheduled to close sometime this week.
“I will go down and file the petition myself,” he said. Walling had no immediate comment on the recall threat.
He did say 46 police officer positions have also been eliminated. Those officers turned in their badges Wednesday. Police union officials tell NBC25 76 patrol officers will remain on the force.
There were 208 on the staff back in May of 2008. This move is part of a plan saving the city more than $5 million.
“We can no longer live within our means,” said Mayor Walling at a press conference. “Shared sacrifices save jobs and in this case we were not able to achieve the shared sacrifice and had to result in 69 fewer police and fire employees,” he said.
Both administration officials and union leaders accuse the other of not budging in negations.
“Our public safety unions refuse to offer a package totaling 15 percent,” Walling said. “I have not seen a proposal from a union official or counter offer even in the double digits,” he added.
“If you have to cut, well that happens but you start at the top and work your way down to the base,” said Flint Police Officers Association President Keith Speer. “He (Walling) didn’t. He went right into us. I think its part of a negotiating ploy. They are trying to bring us down to our knees. It’s just not going to happen,” Speer said.
