An eight month saga that included controversy surrounding a labor union, a lawsuit and charges of unfair practices towards city employees in the City of Rockingham may be coming to an end this week.

Lawyers for the City of Rockingham and the 10 current and former city firefighters who filed a lawsuit against the city and Fire Chief Charles Gardner in March have apparently reached terms that are mutually acceptable.

Now, Rockingham City Council’s approval of the pending agreement is all that remains to bring an end to the lawsuit.

The council will deliberate whether to accept or reject the settlement during a special called meeting Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Rockingham City Hall.

Because the meeting concerns a legal issue, the council is allowed to go into a closed session to discuss the matter, but must reconvene in open session to vote on the matter.

The proposed settlement was reached during a mediation session between the firefighters and the city last Friday, according to a Rockingham press release.

Representing Rockingham Municipal Government at the session were City Manager Monty Crump, Fire Chief Charles Gardner, the city’s legal representation and a representative of the city’s insurance carrier.

The firefighters were represented by their attorney.

Following the mediation, both the City and the firefighters released a joint statement, according to the release.

“The parties in the lawsuit filed by 10 Rockingham Fire Department firefighters against the City of Rockingham and Fire Chief Charles Gardner are pleased to announce that they have agreed to terms settling the lawsuit,” the statement reads. “Upon approval of the terms of the agreement by City Council, the parties will jointly seek dismissal of the case. All of the parties are optimistic that, having resolved their differences, they can move forward in the spirit of cooperation for the benefit of all the citizens of Rockingham.”

Firefighters from the Rockingham Fire Department formed a local chapter of the AFL-CIO labor union the International Association of Fire Fighters late last year.

By March, the membership roll of the chapter reached 10, and all members signed onto a lawsuit against the City of Rockingham asking for back overtime pay.

The claims originally alleged the city’s policy on turn-in alarms was unfair, and demanded compensation for remaining on-call at all times.

The lawsuit was later amended to include charges against Gardner of retaliation for the lawsuit, after the president and treasurer of the IAFF chapter were terminated within three months of its filing.

The suit’s amendment also alleged other members of the union were disciplined for not following department rules.

The firefighters’ union also released a pair of press releases accusing Gardner of creating unfit working conditions for the firefighters.

Details of the settlement may not immediately become public because it deals with personnel matters that are considered confidential under North Carolina General Statute.

Attempts to reach Gandy and IAFF Rockingham Chapter President Robbie Barber were unsuccessful as of press time Tuesday.

n Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.