The metropolis has reached a tentative settlement with the Boston firefighters union, narrowly avoiding arbitration after “many months” of stalled negotiations.
Mayor Michelle Wu stated the brand new deal was reached Sunday night time, and would take impact pending ratification from the union, Boston Firefighters Local 718.
“This tentative agreement is the result of months of staying at the table together, bargaining focused on what our city needs, what communities need, and what the brave individuals who keep them safe every day need,” Wu stated Monday on the Greater Boston Labor Council’s Labor Day Breakfast, the place she made the announcement.
Both sides declined to offer particulars on the phrases of the settlement till a ratification vote is taken by union membership.
According to a supply acquainted with the negotiations, the mayor agreed to a package deal with a 12% increase over three years, with no givebacks, a time period for concessions made by a labor union.
The settlement was due partly to mounting strain introduced by the Mass and Cass zone, which is situated close to the Boston Fire Department’s Southampton Street headquarters, and the publicity of firefighters to harmful situations there, the supply instructed the Herald.
Local 718 President Sam Dillon declined to substantiate these particulars, stating, “At the end of the day, this is out of respect for our members.”
“Our members deserve to hear this from their union, and they deserve the opportunity to review this deal outside of the media and outside of any political implications,” he instructed the Herald.
Dillon stated “no timetable has been set” for a ratification vote.
The metropolis would keep away from arbitration if the brand new contract is ratified by the union, a Wu spokesperson instructed the Herald.
The Joint Labor-Management Committee, which assists in resolving collective bargaining disputes involving municipalities and their cops and firefighters, had taken jurisdiction, however the course of hadn’t reached arbitration but, the spokesperson stated.
“This deal was reached over the bargaining table,” the spokesperson stated.
In an announcement, Wu stated the tentative settlement displays each side’ “shared commitment to delivering the exceptional city services that make Boston the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
“Coming to this agreement through many months of bargaining is a testament to our administration’s determined focus on settling contracts for all our city workers, because building the greatest city for labor means proactively seeking ways to protect workers’ rights and improve workers’ lives,” Wu stated.
All 48 union contracts have been expired when Wu took workplace in November 2021. Roughly 90% of town’s union workforce can be below contract, if this newest settlement is ratified, the mayor’s workplace stated.
Joe Dwinell contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”