Story Published: Nov 14, 2007 at 7:03 PM PST
After four years of court battles, lawyer fees, and pension problems the Port of Walla Walla finally has a deal with the firefighters union.
The Firefighters Union accused the Port of union-busting.
But after intense meetings this month, the groups finally came to a compromise.
Now, instead of working for the Port, airport firefighters will answer to a new fire district.
"If I hadn't had the union in my corner, I know I wouldn't have won this fight," Walla Walla Aircraft Rescue Firefighter Brent Partlow said. "I'm not completely convinced we won this fight."
Partlow has mixed feelings about the deal: with compromise comes sacrifice.
Partlow toughed it out for years to stay at the airport, but the new agreement takes away the Aircraft Rescue Firefighter team altogether.
Starting in January, the airport will contract with a new fire crew: Walla Walla Fire District No. 4.
"Once we get passed this and move to Fire District 4, it'll be much healthier for all of us," Partlow said.
"It's one of the things that we're really looking forward to," Walla Walla Fire District No. 4 Fire Chief Rocky Eastman said. "And I think it's going to be a neat adjunct to our fire department. It's exciting times for Fire District No. 4."
Fire District No. 4 will bring Partlow on board and also rehire Jake Riggs, an airport firefighter the Port laid off three years ago.
The Port will have to pony up the money Riggs lost, fighting to stay on the airport crew.
Partlow kept Riggs' gear hung up in the station even after he was let go.
"I made sure that stayed up because I truly believed he would be back to work," Partlow said. "Two years later, after he'd been laid off, he's back at work."
There will be no one actually manning the airport fire station but Fire District No. 4 still will cover the airport and stand up to FAA regulations.
Partlow and Riggs are still firefighters just in a new spot.
They said, now it means better hours better pay and better bosses.
"It will be fun to get back on the truck again," Partlow said.
Riggs is set to start next month and Partlow by the first of the year.
There is a third firefighter thrown into the mix here.
He also worked for the Airport Rescue Crew but he actually decided to stay with the port in a new security position.
The agreement is just tentative at this point, but the union told Action News they are working out the fine points this week.
**There were technical difficulties Wednesday. Unfortunately, Action News could not post video. We are working on the problem. Thanks for your patience.
