Tulsa Firefighters Union To Fight Order Prohibiting City Employees From Campaigning

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa firefighters union is gearing up for a fight against Tulsa's mayor.

Local 176 President Dennis Moseby said Monday he's going to court to fight Mayor Dewey Bartlett's executive order prohibiting city employees from participating in municipal election campaigns.

During the last city campaign, some firefighters went door to door in support of certain candidates. The firefighters union says they have the same rights of free speech as the other citizens of Tulsa.

"As firefighters, paramedics, health care workers and other public servants, we took a vow to serve and protect Tulsa and its citizens. We did not take a vow to give up our first amendment rights," Dennis Moseby, Local 176, said.

The municipal workers union local 1180 will join the suit. It's not clear yet if they'll sue in District or Federal court, but promise it will be soon.

9/1/2009 Related Story: Tulsa City Councilors Claim The Firefighters' Union Is Violating The Law