Conroe Firefighters Sue for Collective Bargaining

**Conroe Firefighters Sue City Over Collective Bargaining Petition Denial, Court Hearing Set for June 18**

**Conroe, TX –** Conroe firefighters are taking the City of Conroe to court after the City Council voted to reject their petition seeking to place a collective bargaining measure on the November 5 general election ballot. The Conroe Firefighters Association Local 2731 filed a writ of mandamus in Montgomery County District Court on Friday, May 24, against Mayor Sara Countryman, the city, and its council members, with a critical hearing now scheduled for June 18.

The core of the dispute revolves around the interpretation of Texas Local Government Code 143.303(a) and, specifically, how the petition’s signature count should be calculated.

Local 2731 President Clay Miller stated that the association submitted a petition on May 20, claiming they had collected 2,130 valid signatures. Firefighters believe this figure meets the required 20% threshold, based on the number of registered voters who participated in Conroe’s last municipal election in November 2023.

However, during their May 22 meeting, the City Council, acting on the advice of City Attorney Gary Scott, deemed the petition invalid. Scott contended that the 20% threshold should not be based on the number of voters in the last municipal election, but rather on the total number of registered voters in the city *at the time the petition was filed* (May 20). He indicated that under this interpretation, the required number of signatures would have been significantly higher—closer to 6,000 to 7,000, based on the city’s approximately 30,000 registered voters.

“We followed what we believed to be clear legal guidance and the precedent set by other cities in Texas,” Miller said, expressing deep frustration. “To be stonewalled like this after all the hard work our members put in gathering signatures is incredibly disheartening. We believe the law is on our side.”

A writ of mandamus is a legal action seeking a court order to compel a public official or body to perform a specific duty. In this case, the firefighters are asking the court to order the city to place their collective bargaining proposition on the November ballot. The June 18 hearing will likely focus on the judge’s interpretation of the ambiguous language within the Texas Local Government Code 143.303(a).

This is not the first time Conroe firefighters have sought the right to collectively bargain. A similar measure was on the ballot in 2017 but failed, with 54% of voters casting ballots against it. If the firefighters prevail in court this time, Conroe voters would once again decide on November 5 whether to grant them the right to collectively bargain wages, hours, and working conditions. For passage, a simple majority of 50% plus one vote would be needed.

Collective bargaining would allow the Conroe Firefighters Association to negotiate directly with the city over crucial aspects of their employment, including salary, benefits, staffing levels, and safety protocols, rather than relying solely on the city council’s unilateral decisions. Many fire departments in Texas, including those in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, operate under collective bargaining agreements.

The outcome of the June 18 hearing in Montgomery County District Court will be a pivotal moment, determining whether Conroe residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the future of labor relations between the city and its dedicated fire personnel.