UNIONTOWN, Pa. --
A hearing for seven firefighters, laid off in Fayette County is scheduled for Thursday morning.
The grievance arbitration stems from a dispute over the Uniontown council's decision to lay off the firefighters, citing a lack of money to pay salaries. In all, 41 city employees were laid off.
Those who lost their jobs argue their contracts require notice, something they say they weren't given, but the city contends they have no money to pay them.
"We're here right now because we do not have the money to pay the bills. I think right now we have about $15,000 or $16,000 in the general fund and we will be very fortunate if in the next week we will be able to make payroll. It's a sad day," said Mayor Ed Fike.
At an earlier hearing, the city wasn't ordered to call firefighters back to work, but the judge convinced both parties to speed up the arbitration process.
The hearing is not expected to be open to the public.
