Fire Contract

Watertown Firefighters Sign 3 Year Contract with Raises Each Year

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Watertown’s firefighters have a new contract, an agreement that was made with the town without the animosity that was seen before the last contract was settled. The deal came the night before the tragic loss of Firefighter Joseph Toscano. Thursday night, Watertown Firefighters Local 1347 and town officials signed the 3-year contract which gives firefighters a raise of 2.25 percent in Fiscal Year 2017 (which started July 1, 2016), 2 percent in FY 2018 and 2 percent in FY 2019. The last Watertown Firefighters contract took more than six years to settle. It went to arbitration when the two sides could not come to an agreement, then town officials and the Council rejected the arbitration agreement in December 2014.

Elections

LETTER: Fire Union President Responds to Letter on Arbitration, Contract

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Mr. Airasian,

While we at Local 1347 appreciate your many contributions to bettering our community and applaud your stance in supporting your choice of candidates for Town Council we take great exception to the fact that you chose to attack our members in the process. 

(See John Airasian’s letter by clicking here)

Your complete lack of knowledge or understanding of the events that led to the 6.5 year impasse between the Town and the Local is evident in your commentary. That you have chosen to insult us in defense of those councilors who chose to thumb their noses at a state mandated resolution process is the ultimate sign of desperation by you on their behalf. In your letter you state the local enjoyed “some support” in town. If you consider the several hundred lawn signs proudly displayed throughout town “some support” your candidates should hope for the same “some support.” To say that we were pleased with the “some support” you referenced is an understatement and it was that very support that emboldened us to continue our fight for fairness.

Fire Contract

LETTER: Fire Union President Thanks Supporters, Responds to Council

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Editor,

As president of Local 1347 and on behalf of its membership, I would like to thank the residents of Watertown for their unwavering support over the years and particularly the past ten months. Your support helped galvanize us in our fight for fairness. Your lawn signs and our picketing, done respectfully and without incident helped us carry our message forward. This agreement fairly compensates our members for the hard work they perform day in and day out. We are honored and privileged to serve you.

Fire Contract

Now that Fire Contract is Settled, It’s Time to Repair Relationships

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When the Town Council voted to approve the new Watertown firefighters contract the standing-room only room remained subdued, with only muffled congratulations exchanged by members of the Fire Department. 

More of a relief than a celebration, it demonstrated the trying times that accompanied the 6-year-plus contract impasse – particularly the 9 months since the arbitration award was rejected. Town Manager Michael Driscoll called the contract fair and fiscally responsible. Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said he could now vote for the contract because it did not contain a 3 percent raise in years when other town unions took no raises. Councilor Aaron Dushku said he realized the Council’s decision to reject the arbitration award angered people, but he thinks the new contract is fair. “It is a compromise we made,” Dushku said.

Fire Contract

See How the New Fire Contract Compares to the Arbitration Award

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Firefighters had to wait more than six years, plus nine months since the arbitration award was rejected, but they have a new contract approved by the Town Council Tuesday and a healthy raise. The amount in the contract may seem much larger than the arbitration award – $4.68 million vs. $2 million – but there are some key differences. First of all, the new contract is for seven years, while the arbitration award funding included four years. The additional years accounts for nearly $2.6 million of the $4.6 million difference.

Fire Contract

Watertown Firefighter Contract Approved by Town Council

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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.

Government

Union Approves Proposed Watertown Firefighters Contract

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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.

Government

Watertown Fire Contract Takes Big Step Toward Being Settled

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The Watertown Fire Union leaders and town officials have come to an agreement on the disputed Watertown Firefighters Contract, but the contract is not a done deal, yet. The memorandum of agreement was reached on Thursday, said Rob Mannix, president of Local 1347 Firefighters Union. Before the contract can be officially adopted the union and Town Council must approve the deal. “The Watertown Firefighters are thrilled that we were able to settle our contract Thursday,” Mannix said. “This has been a long, hard, draining battle that we are more than happy to put in out rear view.” Mannix did not give details of the proposed contract.