FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Police and firefighters in Fort Wayne don't have to belong to a union.

Tuesday night City Council voted 6-3 to override Mayor Tom Henry's veto of the ordinance that outlaws mandatory union membership.

Fourth-district councilman Mitch Harper voted with the Republican majority, he said.

“Protection of one's livelihood is an important legal right. This adds a right. It does not subtract.”

 Geoff Paddock, who represents the fifth-district, said “On our side of the aisle we call it the right to free-load. It's those people who are going to benefit from the collectiveness of the bargaining.”

In a following the vote, Mayor Henry called the decision “disappointing” he labeled it legislation that “advances ideological and philosophy desires, rather than the needs of residents.