City Attorney Jess Kane updated the City Council on negotiations with the Bartlesville Professional Firefighters Union at the Oct. 6 meeting, identifying two central dispute areas and noting the arbitration schedule is on hold while the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is furloughed.

Central issues: Kane said the city has sought reform of the department’s promotional process — moving from seniority‑based promotion to a merit‑based system adopted in most comparable Oklahoma municipalities — and sought to modify how forced back (called‑in overtime to maintain minimum manning) pay is calculated. The city previously agreed in a 2023 contract to double‑time in some forced‑back situations; Kane said recent double‑time overtime costs for minimum manning have grown and driven significant overtime spending.

Kane’s presentation included figures and comparisons the city used to support its bargaining positions. Kane said the city recorded more than $400,000 in overtime for minimum manning across recent fiscal years and cited 12,414 hours of firefighter sick leave used in fiscal year 2025 — an average quoted as roughly 188 hours per firefighter — which the city attorney characterized as driving many forced‑back shifts. Kane attributed the need for arbitration to an impasse: the union insisted the identified areas were not problems and refused to negotiate solutions, he said.

Arbitration status: The city has named an arbitrator and the union has named its arbitrator; the parties are awaiting designation of a third arbitrator from FMCS. Kane said the FMCS appears furloughed in the federal government shutdown, so the arbitration schedule is on hold. He added the parties remain open to continuing direct negotiations while arbitration procedures are paused.

Kane emphasized the city’s view that public dollars require stewardship, and he presented wage and benefit comparisons showing many firefighters earn salaries above the city median household income; he attributed the bargaining impasse to the union’s refusal to negotiate on the two priorities and its request for larger raises than other city employees. Kane said the city would continue to pursue negotiation in good faith and provide further updates to council.