Is there an emergency at Houston’s 911 center?

Recently released radio ads might make you think there is.

The commercial says this:

“Unfortunately, the City of Houston is using kids to answer your 911 calls.”

It’s a scary-sounding scenario.  But is it true? Are teenagers really working at the emergency call center?

“I have talked to people who worked at the HEC Center, and yes … (teenagers) are there,” said Jere Talley, Senior HR Specialist with the City of Houston.

But the mayor is mad about the ad.

“There are high school students who are working as a part of the HEC Center, but they are not taking 911 emergency calls,” Mayor Bill White said.

It seems the ad is the latest shot fired in a larger battle between the city and the union as they negotiate a first-time contract for non-uniformed city workers.

“I just hope we’re getting what we’re asking for as employees,” city employee John Anderson said.

The issue is attracting some big names.

“A first-class city like Houston shouldn’t have second-class pay,” John Edwards said in a YouTube clip.

But the battle has left a shadow hanging over 13,000 city workers as they go about their business this holiday season.

“We will never, ever, ever bend or yield our position based on untrue radio ads or pressure from outside the city, from celebrity YouTube things,” Mayor White said.

So while workers deck the city’s halls, all they want is a new contract.

“There’s always hope,” Anderson said.

But for now this season of peace is a time for fighting words at City Hall.

“We have to do something that’s fair to our employees, but also fair to our taxpayers,” Mayor White said.

The City of Houston has asked the union, which is called HOPE, to stop playing the ad. But the union says it's standing by the claims.