In the latest chapter of the ongoing standoff between the county and its largest collective-bargaining unit, the Charlotte County Commission Tuesday authorized staff to initiate a charge of unfair labor practices against the county’s firefighters union.

In a 4-1 vote, commissioners gave County Attorney Janette Knowlton the green light to initiate the charge against the Suncoast Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 2546 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO for “failure to bargain in good faith” as required by Florida statutes on contract negotiations that began more than a year ago.