Conn. Firefighters in Dark Over Looming Layoffs
Source The Day, New London, Conn.
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- More than a dozen New London firefighters attended a special City Council meeting Monday expecting to hear contract concessions were approved and 25 workers would not lose their jobs at the end of the week.
Instead, following a 30-minute closed-door session, the council announced no votes would be taken on negotiations with Local 1522.
Union President Rocco Basilica said he did not know what happened and would have to call the mayor's office this morning. He added that Councilor Wade Hyslop assured him that there would be no layoffs.
About a third of the city's fire department received pink slips last month informing them they would lose their jobs June 30 because of budget constraints. The next scheduled meeting of the council is July 2.
The union and the city have been negotiating and the mayor's office announced last week that the two sides had reached an agreement. A joint announcement was expected to be made today.
The council approves contracts and revisions to contracts.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Basilica said.
Copyright 2012 - The Day, New London, Conn.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
