Fire Union Calls for Contract Approval Now

Fire Union officials this week are calling on the City and the City Council to respect the collective bargaining process and approve their contract.

Last week, the Council narrowly voted to keep the contract on the table in hopes that the Union would agree to go back to the table with City Manager Jay Ash to negotiate a slightly better deal.

However, the contract has been in negotiation for more than two years, with a state arbiter recently giving the union a win by approving their position. With the Union coming out a winner at arbitration, it was up to the Council to ratify the contract – which it has not done yet.

Six councillors voted to keep the contract in front of them in hopes the Union would cede some of the pay raises gained in arbitration. However, the Union said this week that it doesn’t intend to do that.

“At this time I would like to say that Local 937 respects the collective bargaining process and will continue to do so under [state law],” said Lt. Brian Capistran, president of the fire union. “I am asking that City Manager Jay Ash and Chelsea City Council do the same by funding the award that has been placed before them. Chelsea Firefighters, Local 937, will remain committed to providing the highest level of service to the Citizens of Chelsea to protect life and property.”

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