Arbitration is a better way forward.

Every three years the City of Houston and Houston firefighters sit down to work out a collectively bargained contract as required by law. City negotiators and firefighters sometimes cannot negotiate agreements on issues such as workplace conditions, pay, health insurance premiums, or even how many firefighters will respond to fire and EMS calls. When this happens, it’s called impasse. Today, the only path forward is expensive, taxpayer-funded litigation driven by the mayor.

There’s a better way forward. it’s called arbitration. In this system, a neutral, third-party arbitrator can help cost-effectively bring about a solution without litigation. Many other cities — including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — rely on arbitration to settle disputes with public employees and the city.

Houston should too. Let’s change the Houston city charter to make that happen. Please sign the petition today — and let the voters decide.

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