Tulsa Unions Trying to Prevent Furloughs

(AP) TULSA, Okla.
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says the city's police and fire unions are trying to determine what costs might be deferred for the upcoming tight budget year for the city.

She says the deferred costs would offset the eight furlough days for city employees that are a part of the $567 million budget just approved by the city council.

Firefighters local union president Stan May says firefighters could possibly pay the city's usual 3 percent into the union's pension plan. He says that would come close to the cost of the furlough days.

Police union lodge president Phil Evans says while that union wants to help, it disagrees with furloughs. He says it has considered deferring compensation of an apprenticeship program until year's end.

Taylor says the unions still would have to persuade their members to accept such proposals.
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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

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