DALLAS — The Dallas Firefighters Association said Friday it opposes the so-called HERO amendments to the city's charter over concerns it could weaken the group's strength in contract negotiations by driving a wedge between the police and fire coalition.
The amendments, labeled S, T, and U on the Dallas ballot, have garnered opposition from every city council member, the mayor and former city leaders who say the measures will upend city government if approved by voters.
Measures S and T make it easier for people to sue the city and tie the city manager's pay to a public survey, respectively. However the firefighters said they are most concerned about proposition U -- which would require Dallas to hire 900 more police officers and spend any extra tax revenue on public safety pensions, then police officer salaries.
"We fear that could create a divide between us and police," said DFA President Jeff Patterson. "If they increase the police pay, where does that leave fire?"
He said it could "destroy" the existing pay negotiations or at least add unnecessary uncertainty.
As for the pension, he said the city already has a plan to fund it -- and while he would welcome extra money added to the pension, it doesn't need to be tied to the city's charter.
"I think it's kind of smoke in mirrors," he said. "I think that’s just trying to grab the citizen’s attention because that whole process is being handled in another avenue."
Pete Marocco, the executive director of the HERO initiative, said he expected opposition from city leaders.
"I don’t have any surprise about the fact that there are people at City Hall that do not want to be held accountable," he said.
But Marocco said the amendments themselves aren't what may cause problems down the line for firefighters.
"This is alarmist rhetoric and I’ll tell you that it’s really sad that the thought process of the firefighters association is that they know the City Council is going to screw them."
Patterson said he hopes there is not a negative impact on firefighters if the amendments pass, but said the association isn't willing to take the chance with the uncertainty. Its members plan to be at early voting sites starting Monday to "educate" voters about propositions S, T and U.
"It's all hands on deck," he said. "This affects all of us in the fire department."