Kansas City firefighters end slowdown, sickout

Dissident firefighters, faced with the threat of possible legal action and the loss of jobs, announced late Tuesday that they were ending a job action that forced police and National Guardsmen to fill in for them for the past two weeks.The members of International Association of Firefighters Local 42, who began their work slowdown and "sickout" Dec. 21, were directed by their union leaders to return to work at 8 a.m. eastern standard time Wednesday.

"We hope this will spur the city to resume negotiations," union president John Germann said. "We're close enough that a settlement is definitely possible. The ball is now in their court."