COUNTYWIDE : County, Firefighters Disagree Over Talks
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Ventura County officials and representatives from the firefighters union, whose contract expires Feb. 1, have been unable to agree on negotiating conditions, a union official said Wednesday.
Ken Maffei, president of the 400-member Professional Firefighters’ Assn., said union representatives have met twice with county officials, but the county is not willing to permit the union to tape-record the negotiations.
Edward McLean, the county’s assistant personnel director in charge of labor negotiations, declined to comment on the issue.
Maffei said the firefighters will demand a pay increase as part of a new contract but would not say how much.
He said the union also wants the county to hire more personnel for fire stations in Simi Valley, Fillmore, Camarillo and Ojai and to implement a departmentwide paramedic program.
Maffei said the firefighters would probably not strike if they do not have a new contract agreement by Feb. 1.
But he said firefighters are prepared to picket and demonstrate in front of the offices of the Board of Supervisors if their contract is not renewed by that time.
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