The Watertown Firefighters have a contract after more than six years after the Town Council approved the agreement Tuesday night.
The unanimous vote to approve the agreement negotiated by town officials and the Local 1347 Fire Union comes nearly nine months after the Town Council rejected an arbitration award that would have settled the contract impasse.
The agreement covers seven years, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016. The firefighters will receive 19 percent in salary increases, but did not receive an increase for the first two years. That is in line with the agreements other town and school unions made during that time.
In all the contract will cost the town $4.675 million, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. The town has the money in other accounts to pay for the contract – with $2.1 million coming from the Town Council reserve, $2.492 million from the Town health insurance fund and $83,000 from the fire clothing fund.
Firefighters will also receive increased stipends for EMT/defibrillator training.
Follow Watertown News for more reactions and details on the Firefighters contract.