The Fort Wayne City Council voted 6-3 along party lines Tuesday evening to override Mayor Tom Henry's veto of an ordinance to end compulsory membership in public safety unions.
The move directly impacts the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, which has not yet negotiated a new contract with city leaders.
The ordinance, which was originally passed on July 8, is an amended collective bargaining measure for public safety employees.
The new version maintains a public safety's employment cannot be affected by their decision not to pay union dues, according to the ordinance's sponsor, Mitch Harper, R-4th.
He said, "It adds a right ... it doesn't take away a right."
PBA president Sofia Rosales-Scatena said the union's contract does say dues are a condition of employment, but no member has ever been fired for not joining.
She felt the ordinance is unnecessary.
"I just don't feel you need an ordinance to enact certain things," she said. "Given time, we probably could've come to some negotiated item."
Mayor Henry issued a statement shortly after the override vote, calling it "disappointing."
"The public and our award-winning City employees deserve the opportunity to have an open discussion to see why Council continues to pass legislation that appears to advance their ideological and philosophical desires rather than meeting the needs of residents and businesses," he wrote.