MIDDLETOWN, RI—The town and local firefighters' union have entered arbitration after formal negotiations didn't yield a new labor contract.
The two-year collective bargaining agreement between the two sides expired on June 30. Town Administrator Shawn Brown said the parties had a couple formal negotiation sessions at the start of 2019 before the union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1933, filed for arbitration on March 8.
"Two formal negotiating sessions highlighted we were far from an agreement," Brown told The Daily News. "We continue to talk to union leadership and continue to try and find an agreement." He cited "a number of financial and nonfinancial issues" as to why there's a gap between the two sides. Multiple attempts to reach the local union and the Rhode Island Association of Firefighters were unsuccessful.
Councilwoman Terri Flynn called attention to the arbitration proceedings during the Town Council meeting Monday, when she mentioned there were a "number of expenditure requests" on the docket, including a veterans' memorial, athletic fields near Gaudet Middle School, defibrillators for the Fire Department and carpeting at Town Hall. She said the outcome of the arbitration proceedings could have financial implications for the town.
"There are some concerns with our staffing of the firefighters at the 1989 level, the profile of Middletown changing — getting larger, more large homes, elderly facilities and commercial properties — having to rely on our neighboring communities to help us out in emergencies ... ," Flynn said. "That might cost us quite a bit of money."
Town Council President Robert Sylvia interjected to ask Town Solicitor Peter Regan for an opinion on discussing the details of the situation. "I would not recommend discussing the specifics of the issues that are the subject of the arbitration," Regan answered, "particularly because I don't know whether any comments are going to be consistent with whatever position the town may be taking [in arbitration]."
Collective bargaining with the union was a topic of the council's executive session after the public portion of the meeting Monday.
Brown said the arbitration process could take a while to play out, and he does not expect a resolution until sometime after the end of the year. The two sides selected Sherrie Talmadge of the American Arbitration Association to serve as the neutral arbitrator, he added.
Talks outside of arbitration are ongoing. "We continue to talk to union leadership and continue to discuss while we go through arbitration [to see] if an agreement can be reached," Brown said. "And we'll continue to discuss opportunities, ways of trying to close the gap."
"There's a lot of respect for the department and the firefighters there," he added. "We're listening to their concerns. The challenge is just looking at the community and trying to balance all of the different interests as far as reaching an agreement. Unfortunately, it will take an extra step and require an arbitrator to get us to an agreement."
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