Patoka Fire Dept. union begins first negotiations

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. (WEHT) – Patoka Township Fire and Rescue works to agree on salaries and insurance among other topics with the township trustee Phyllis Ernst.

The two sides held their initial bargaining session Wednesday afternoon. Patoka Township local 5487 president Keith Sander says the public should realize the trustee has decided to run a good fire department.

The newly formed Patoka Township Fire Department follows a separation between Patoka Township and the Princeton Fire Department.

New firefighters have been hired and have unionized with the international association of firefighters and the professional firefighters union of Indiana.

Sander believes the public can benefit from the unions so firefighters can have everything they need.

The two sides have not said when they might be able to agree on their first contract.

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