Atlantic City firefighters get 20-day reprieve from state's contract changes

Days after a judge cleared the way for massive changes to Atlantic City firefighter contracts by the state, another judge temporarily halted the move. The Atlantic City fire union is appealing Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez's ruling to allow the moves to go forward. https://breakingac.com/judge-lifts-injunction-against-acfd-contract-cuts/ On Tuesday, the union's attorney successfully argued for a 20-day stay allowing time for the appeal. Mendez was off, Superior Court Judge Mark Sandson heard the case in the Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing. Mendez previously backed the firefighters' argument that the plan to halve the department's ranks should be stopped. But he said they did not show enough evidence to allow for the injunction on the contract changes — which include pay cuts and increased hours — to move forward. Fire Chief Scott Evans has said he wants to have a study done to determine what the proposed personnel cuts could mean for how his department operates. In his ruling last week, Mendez ordered the two sides to “meet as often as possible,” and at least once a month to discuss the proposals. A case management conference via telephone is set for 10 a.m. May 16.