Reno firefighters sue to block layoffs
RENO — Reno firefighters have sued the city to block layoffs scheduled to take effect July 1.
Firefighters, in their lawsuit filed Thursday, say the layoffs of 33 firefighters are in breach of their collective bargaining agreement and put residents at risk.
They say the city is legally prohibited from laying off firefighters if it has money available to save the jobs and the city’s budget includes an increase in cash reserves.
City Manager Andrew Clinger told the Reno Gazette-Journal that the city lacks the funds to save the jobs and looks forward to its day in court.
The city announced the layoffs after learning it lost a federal grant that had paid for 50 firefighters. The city found enough money to save 17 of the jobs and issued layoffs to the remaining 33 firefighters last week.
