City council plans to negotiate with International Association of Firefighters Local 114 to make changes to the union’s current bargaining agreement with the city.

The changes would be made to allow the Butler City Fire Department to hire part-time firefighters, according to Councilwoman Kathy Kline, who also is the director of public safety.

Kline was asked by other members of council at Tuesday’s forum meeting to pursue the changes, which includes wording regarding the number of full-time firefighters needed before regular part-time firefighters could be hired.

Page 5 of the contract states that “there shall be a four-man minimum complement per shift,” with a minimum of one officer, two full-time firefighters and either one full-time or one regular part-time firefighter.

It also states that “any reductions from the current staffing of 18 full-time firefighters shall be achieved only through attrition.”

A full report will appear in the Sunday Butler Eagle.