Firefighters' Union Gets Restraining Order Against City

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia firefighters' union went to court Friday and got a judge to stop the mayor, at least temporarily, from taking action that would remove the city's paramedics from the fire union.

Read Text of the Complaint (.pdf format)

The judge scheduled a hearing for next week on the city's plan to sever the paramedics from the firefighters' union in the wake of a state labor relations board ruling late last month (see related story).

Rick Poulson, an attorney for the union, accused Mayor Nutter of taking punitive action because some paramedics several years ago had earlier sued the city over overtime, and won:

"The mayor is mad. And he's taking out his frustration on this group of paramedics, who I think are the hardest working folks in the city of Philadelphia. They deserve a heck of a lot better."

The mayor denies the action is punitive. Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers earlier this week notified paramedics that they are no longer covered under the contract between the city and the firefighters.

Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn.
Photo by Mike Dunn