By Robert Harding
The Citizen
AUBURN, N.Y. — The Auburn City Council on Thursday surprisingly rejected the proposed three-year contract with the Auburn firefighters’ union.
The vote was 3 to 2, with Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino casting the deciding vote against the tentative agreement with Auburn Professional Firefighters Local 1446. He joined councilors Craig Diego and Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson in opposing the contract. Councilors Christina Calarco and Terry Cuddy voted for the measure.
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The rejection of the contract followed a lengthy discussion, mainly led by Diego, about the proposal. Diego raised numerous concerns about the contract, including the 3% annual pay raises at a time when the city is facing fiscal stress and not increasing the firefighters’ share of their health insurance premiums to the same level as other employees.
Under the proposed contract, the firefighters’ share of their premiums would have increased to 18.75% over three years. The city has been seeking to get more employees to contribute 25% of their premiums.
Diego also questioned the inclusion of what he called a “no-layoff” provision and the minimum staffing levels established in the deal. The contract would’ve lowered total staffing for the Auburn Fire Department from 71 to 65.
The city’s negotiating team, which included Auburn City Manager Jenny Haines and Auburn Corporation Counsel Nate Garland, was not spared from Diego’s criticism. Although he acknowledged they “worked as hard as they possibly could,” he felt they lacked the experience in negotiating contracts and that “was a huge part of the problem.”
During Diego’s monologue, he questioned why the firefighters would be given 3% annual raises when other employees, including the ambulance staff and management, were offered 2%.
Cuddy countered that it’s because “each of them have their own contract in place.” He insisted the agreement with the firefighters’ union is a good contract and the city would save money.
Diego sharply responded, “That’s an outright lie.”
“If you think it’s a good contract, more power to you,” Diego said. “I’m going to take the opposite stance because, as far as the fiscal situation of the city and the taxpayers, we’re doing them a disservice by approving this contract.”
Regarding the no-layoff language, Diego first mentioned that during the city’s budget process when there were proposed cuts to the fire department. The current contract with the firefighters’ union contains a provision that would prevent job cuts due to budgetary reasons. That language was kept in the tentative agreement.
When Cuddy weighed in to say the provision was kept because it had already been in the previous contract, Auburn resident James Udall interrupted the meeting to scold Cuddy. He was escorted out by a police officer.
“We tried to negotiate it out. We couldn’t,” Cuddy said. “But what we did get is something that’s going to eventually save the taxpayers now,” referring to the reduced staffing levels, which he called a “big win.”
Diego disagreed.
“Unless somebody bails us out, we’re going to have a long, tough budget this year again. This helps nobody,” he said. “All it did was basically tell the police, the ambulance and the city workers, CSEA, if we have to cut, it’s coming from you.”
As an independent who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines in 2025, Diego has often been the lone dissenter on the mostly Democratic council. But on Thursday, others spoke out against the contract.
Overstreet-Wilson announced she would vote against the contract, though she praised the Auburn Fire Department for responding when she has dealt with panic attacks and seizures in the past. She mentioned the city’s declining population and rising health insurance costs. She also believes the city would benefited from having a professional negotiator to handle the talks with the union.
“In no way, shape or form do I not appreciate, nor my family appreciate, what you all do,” Overstreet-Wilson said, “but we do have to think about inequities in other departments.”
When the roll call began, Diego and Overstreet-Wilson voted no. Cuddy and Calarco followed, both voting yes.
Giannettino, as is custom for the mayor, voted last. He credited the negotiating teams involved in the process, but reiterated his concerns with the city’s soaring health insurance costs.
“Everybody is dealing with this. I deal with it on a daily basis in private business. I see what it’s doing to our employees,” he said. “It is, in my opinion, imperative that we fix health insurance for the city of Auburn. Unfortunately, I cannot support this tonight and I’m voting no as well.”
In a statement provided to The Citizen, Giannettino further explained his vote.
“I’ve made it clear over the past several months that rapidly increasing health insurance costs are one of the biggest challenges we face,” he said. “It’s imperative that health insurance contributions and offerings are adjusted so that they are fair and equitable to the workforce and the citizens.”
With Giannettino casting the deciding vote against the contract, Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason announced the result — “Does not carry,” he said, meaning the resolution did not pass.
The vote will force the city and the firefighters’ union to resume negotiations. The union ratified the contract on Wednesday, but the council’s vote means the agreement won’t take effect.
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