Labor negotiations between the firefighters’ union and the city have gone downhill fast. The firefighters’ union, Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, sent out press releases to media outlets Wednesday that said the union was going to “explore legal options” in its dispute with city management. The firefighters and city managers are engaging in controversial negotiations because city officials are planning to lay off firefighters if the union does not make concessions. Firefighter and union spokesman Chris Harvey said Tuesday that 41 firefighters may lose their jobs. The City Council approved its budget Tuesday, closing a gap of more than $43 million. “We now must explore all legal a

The local firefighters’ union is objecting to city management’s comments about Sacramento's budget crunch and possible layoffs for fire department staff. At the same time, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Sacramento’s neighborhood services department both expressed concerns Monday about the potential budget cuts being considered by the city. The proposed 2009/2010 city budget, released Friday, seeks to address a $50 million deficit. The City Council will address the proposed budget at its May 19 meeting. Among other cuts, the budget proposes to lay off 189 city employees. The budget calls for 387 positions to be slashed. Because 198 of those positions are vacant, the city would n