McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Breaking News

Police/Courts

Related Photos

  • McAlester firefighters check a hose on a truck parked in front of the McAlester Fire Department's main station at Kinkead Hills on Monday. A contract between firefighters and the city, as approved by voters last month, remains unsigned following a refusal by the city's mayor. Staff Photo by KEVIN HARVISON

    FIREFIGHTERS.jpg

  • McAlester Mayor Steve Harrison File Photo

    HARRISON,-STEVE.jpg
July 10, 2012

Fire contract: Mayor says 'no'

By Jeanne LeFlore Staff Writer

McALESTER — McAlester Mayor Steve Harrison has refused to sign the voter-approved collective bargaining agreement between the city and the union representing its firefighters.

“I could not in good conscience sign this contract,” Harrison said.

The mayor said his refusal is not a recent decision.

“I informed the city attorney of my position well before the election,” Harrison said, referring to the June 26 election inwhich voters chose the firefighters’ Last Best Offer in negotiations with the city. 

The McAlester City Council is now expected to take up the issue during its meeting tonight.

An item would have McAlester City Manager Pete Stasiak sign for the city, if the measure is approved by the council.

Last month’s vote followed a year long battle between the city and the International Association of Firefighters Union.

The contract was set to be signed on June 29 however, Harrison never showed up to sign on the dotted line.

Mike Conaglia president of the Local 2284 Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters said Harrison failed to show up at city hall after the vote was official.

“We were up there in (the city clerk’s) office,we signed our papers, but the mayor didn’t show up,” Coniglia said.

He said because Harrison is representing the people of McAlester he should sign the contract on behalf of those who elected him.

“He’s just representing himself, not the people of McAlester,” Coniglia said.

“The Mayor was elected to represent the people,” he said. “His place is to carry out his sworn duties.”For more on this story, see the print or electronic editions of the McAlester News-Capital. Click here for print edition home delivery or click here to see the Smart Edition for your computer, tablet, e-reader or smartphone.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Police/Courts
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8 Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8 Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
NDN Video
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone During UK Concert Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Miami Heat Wins in Overtime Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent' WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.