Hialeah firefighters are set to vote on a new labor contract after two-and-a-half months of negotiations with the city, as union representatives accuse Mayor Bryan Calvo’s administration of playing politics with contract talks and undermining the department’s ability to retain qualified personnel.
Since negotiations began in July, the Hialeah Fire Department has lost five firefighters, including a paramedic/hazardous material technician trained to respond to incidents involving dangerous chemicals. When talks began, many firefighters saw the contract negotiations as an opportunity to stem the departures. The union had told the city that improving retention was a priority.
The union will hold the vote Oct. 11, 12 and 13, with a separate voting day for each of the department’s three shifts. The agreement needs approval from 51% of the firefighters who vote to pass…