Charlie Breitrose
Nearly 400 people rallied in front of Town Hall in support of the Watertown Firefighters.
Watertown’s firefighters approved the contract proposal Wednesday night, and after more than six years the contract is one step from being approved.
Members of Local 1347 voted on the memorandum of understanding reached by the negotiating teams from the fire union and the town last week. Fire Union President Rob Mannix said it “passed comfortably,” but did not give any further details.
The contract must now be approved by the Town Council before it will be officially approved.
Firefighters have been at this point before. In December 2014 the Town Council was given a proposal sent form an independent arbitrator, but Councilors voted 8-1 against the deal saying it was not fiscally responsible and was not fair to other town unions which accepted no raise for two years.
The Council could vote on the contract at the Sept. 22 meeting.