The Associated Press via The Lowell Sun
LAWRENCE, Mass. — Lawrence officials and the local firefighters union have come to an agreement on contract concessions that will allow the city to rehire eight of the 24 firefighters laid off in July.
The union voted 57-7 Tuesday to make $241,000 in contract concessions, including 24 hours of unpaid overtime per firefighter, and one less week of vacation.
Mayor William Lantigua agreed to match the firefighters’ concessions, adding $241,000 in city revenue he says was not available in July.
Acting Fire Chief Brian Murphy tells The Eagle-Tribune the agreement is an “excellent first step.”
Murphy has said the layoffs made the department dangerously understaffed. The city also came under fire for relying too much on mutual aid from neighboring communities.
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