Pontiac Firefighters Accept Layoffs
PONTIAC (WWJ) - Pontiac firefighters agree to accept layoffs, moving the deal to have Waterford Township take over firefighting duties in Pontiac closer to reality.
Union President Damon Harney says the the vote means there is a better chance many of them will be hired by Waterford.
"The decision of the Pontiac fire department or the union considered also the safety and services to the citizens. Had we not agreed to this tentative agreement then we would not have had a window in which we could apply to Waterford and possibly still be here doing the job," says Harney.
But Harney says there are still other aspects that will have to be addressed.
"Two other legs of this chair have to be put in place. Leg number one will be the township of Waterford and the city of Pontiac need to agree to contract services to each other. And the second leg would be that the Waterford firefighters union would also have to agree to the contract that the township and the city agree to," says Harney.
Pontiac layoffs take affect February 1, 2012 - the same day Waterford Township is scheduled to takeover the department.
