Firefighter raise never a real option

The old adage of "repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth" contains just enough truth that I am compelled to call a lie a lie when I know it is. Baltimore MayorStephanie Rawlings-Blake's mantra that Baltimore's firefighters and officers turned down a 20-percent wage increase in exchange for a longer work week is simply not true, and she knows it ("City spending panel OKs contract for fire chief," July 12). Yes, such an offer was on the table during the most recent round of negotiations with the city's fire unions, but it was pulled back by the city when it became apparent that any potential savings would be years down the road.

In our form of negotiations, an explicit "severability clause" exists, meaning that any single part of an eventual, tentative agreement is dependent upon acceptance of the entire agreement by the entire membership. The fact of the matter is that the members of the fire unions were never given an opportunity to consider, let alone vote upon, a 20-percent wage increase. The kindest word to describe one who continues to make a statement known to be untrue is a liar.

Stephan G. Fugate, Baltimore

The writer is president of the Baltimore Fire Officers Association.