By Sarah Favot
The Lowell Sun
WESTFORD, Mass. — Westford firefighters have been working without a contract since July 1 but negotiations between the town and the union have not resulted in a new contract.
Union members representing the 37-member Local No. 3126 International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO have been negotiating with the town since June, but according to union President David Greenwood, negotiations are not moving forward.
“They won’t give us anything at all and they don’t seem to want to talk about it,” said Greenwood.
Greenwood said the town, represented by the town manager, assistant town manager, human-resources director, two selectmen and the fire chief, has not budged from its initial proposal.
“They laid their proposals out and they’re not backing down,” he said. “They’ve said no to every single proposal we’ve made.”
Greenwood said the town has rejected even noncost items.
Town Manager Jodi Ross said she could not address Greenwood’s claims.
“We’re in negotiations and all matters that we’re discussing are confidential,” she said. “I can’t discuss proposals on either the town’s side or fire’s side.”
But she said she is hopeful the two sides will reach an agreement. Both sides have met about five times since June.
Last year, the firefighters negotiated a one-year contract and received a 2 percent salary increase.
Teachers and other School Department staff are also working without a contract as negotiations between the union and the School Committee stalled last month.
The Westford Education Association, the union that represents teachers and other School Department staff, sought third-party mediation through the state.
Mary McCusker, who is leading negotiations for the union, said the two sides had an informal session with a mediator Nov. 30 and are scheduling meetings for formal sessions.
The assertions the firefighters’ union made about negotiations are similar to what the teachers’ union has said.
Ross said the town is looking to negotiate similar terms across all of the town’s unions.
The Public Works Association, the police officers’ union, police superiors’ union, a union of clerical workers, custodians and laborers and a union of office and middle managers have ratified two-year agreements with the town.
Those unions agreed to no cost-of-living increases. Step increases varied for each union, with some accepting one-time payments in lieu of step increases.
Ross and the selectmen are not directly involved in negotiations with the teachers’ union, but she said the town is trying to be consistent with all of the unions.
“The School Committee and the Board of Selectmen have met together and developed a strategy for the superintendent and myself as the negotiating leaders for the town and the school,” she said.
Greenwood said he, too, is hopeful that negotiations will be successful, but the firefighters’ union is also prepared to resort to mediation in the coming months if an agreement is not reached.
“It’s really disappointing,” he said.
“We work hard, we provide an excellent service and it’s almost as if we don’t feel like we’re appreciated by town officials.”
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