Firefighters back Street for mayor over Nutter

Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22 has made an endorsement in the race for mayor. It has decided to back the long-shot challenger.

The union endorsed Milton Street over incumbent Michael Nutter in the race for the Democratic mayoral nomination. Union spokesman Bob Bedard said firefighters made their decision after hearing from Street.

“We’re tired of being pushed around. We’re going to go a different route,” said Bedard. “If it does nothing else than tells people to think twice before you vote. Anybody would be better.”

Nutter campaign spokeswoman Sheila Simmons attributed the endorsement to the city’s appeal of an arbitration award to firefighters.

“We have to think that the driving force behind this decision had to be the appeal of the arbitration award. Philadelphia is still is in an economically challenged position,” she said. “The mayor, f course, anted an award that was respectful to the firefighters and one the city could afford.”

The city appealed the firefighters’ biding arbitration decision last year saying it was too expensive and did not give the city control over health costs.