Local 4269 files petition with the Town of Ocean City

A local fire fighter's union in Ocean City filed a petition seeking to have a mediator between the union and the Town of Ocean City to prevent labor disputes.

Ocean City Local 4269 says the petition requests to receive binding interest arbitration. Union President Ryan Whittington says the petition filed had more than 1,500 signatures and Whittington says that residents would vote on the arbitration in the next municipal election next year.

Last week, the union announced that they voted to confirm a collective bargaining agreement with Ocean City on their hours, ending a years long battle.

The two sides were previously unable to reach a labor contract agreement. The town wanted its first responders to work 12 hour rotating shifts instead of 24 hour shifts that they were on.