A Mobile County circuit court judge denied motions for summary judgment filed by the Mobile Fire Fighter's Union and the City of Mobile.

The Mobile Firefighter's Association is suing the city, upset that Mobile Police officers were given incentive pay last year and firefighters were not.

The judge says he wants to hear more testimony at a later date.

The lawsuit is all about pay parity. The suit claims the city did not give firefighters the same deal.

Pay parity is about making sure employees in the same job and location are paid fairly to one another.

Mobile Fire-Rescue firefighters believe the city has implemented a pay raise that’s disguised as an incentive.

“Based on what they’re asking for in the merits of the shift incentive policy, the firefighters are eligible for it. The only difference is that our certifications that you have to have coming on the job is no different than what the post certifications for the respective police officers. We all have different shifts; they have different shifts we have two to three different shifts. One of the mischaracterizations that was put in here today is that all firefighters just work 24/48 and that’s inaccurate," said Matt Waltman, MFRD firefighter/paramedic and President of the Mobile Firefighters association.

Part of the city’s argument was about the hours police officers have to work versus firefighters, with many of them having to work overnight shifts and have to make a court appearance the next morning, some called in at a moment’s notice.

*Another argument in court was about the shortage of officers and the police department’s high attrition rate.

“Here’s the big thing i want you all to realize, since the implementation of this incentive policy, the fire department has lost over 10% of their workforce since last year. Around 60 people walked out the doors of the MFRD. A majority of them are all resignations," said Waltman.

City Attorney Ricardo Woods says, in part — “the action before court is to determine if Mobile Police officers can continue to receive incentive pay due to the challenging nature of their jobs.”

The next court date is set for May 3.