Firefighters from Pontiac, Michigan, arrived at City Hall on Tuesday evening, days after receiving layoff notices on Christmas eve, to protest a plan to outsource emergency services, according to a report from MLive.com and Fox 2 News.
The report indicates that a tentative deal aiming to save the city $3 million a year was made by Lou Schimmel, Emergency Manager. Signing this deal would close their department, outsource emergency services to Waterford Township, but would offer jobs to many of the Pontiac firefighters. Schimmel says this is the “only option” for Pontiac, but, according to the report, firefighters say “they are willing to make concessions to save their department”.
In the report, Pontiac firefighter Chris Gangnier was quoted to say, “People of Pontiac do not want to outsource their fire department. The firefighters of Pontiac are willing to take concessions and do this cheaper, cheaper than Waterford.”
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Video report provided courtesy of Fox 2 News.