Hawthorne : Firemen Threaten to Picket

The Hawthorne Firemen’s Assn. is threatening to take its fight with the city for higher wages to the streets.

Fire Capt. Roy Markoski warned the City Council this week that it will have “serious labor problems” if there is no progress in the contract negotiations.

Markoski said firefighters will picket city-sponsored public events and will appeal to neighborhood crime prevention groups for support.

Hawthorne firefighters, who claim to be the busiest but lowest paid in the South Bay, said they will accept the city’s offer of 3.5% for next year if the city will make it among the area’s three highest-paid next year.