Update: Selectmen Unanimously Vote to Ratify Contract With Tewksbury Firefighters

Update 10/11- In executive session Thursday night, Selectmen voted unanimously to ratify a collective bargaining agreement between the town and Local 1647 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Selectmen Chairman Scott Wilson said after a two year negotiating process, both sides had to compromise in coming to an agreement and are happy to be moving forward. 

"It was a long process and at the end of the day everyone had to compromise, and I think everyone will be happy to move forward," Wilson said.

The contract provides two percent raises for fiscal year 12, FY13, FY14 and extends through FY15, with last year's raises distributed retroactively following an Oct. 1 Special Town Meeting vote.

"I think the firefighters will be happy getting a retroactive raise for last year," Wilson said. "While money is tight, you don't want to have people that work for the town going without getting a raise."

While the agreement is in effect after Thursday's vote, Selectmen will take a public vote at their Oct. 22 open session meeting and are expected to make further comment of the contract then, according to Wilson. 

Update 10/9- At a Tuesday night meeting, the Tewksbury firefighters union ratified in a close vote a collective bargaining agreement between the union and the town. 

"It was a close vote but it did pass and we're happy to be moving on now," said Local 1647 of the International Association of Fire Fighters President Jim Giasullo.

Several union members were on duty at the time of the vote so a final vote tally could not be provided.

"We want to move on. There's nothing to distract us from doing our job of supporting and protecting the residents of Tewksbury," Giasullo said.

Giasullo was working an overnight shift following the vote, and said he could sense a boost in morale among those firefighters coming into work Wednesday morning. 

"I could feel it in the guys this morning, Giasullo said. "Morale was already better this morning. Most of the guys just want to move on."

Selectmen are expected to review the agreement in executive session on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Tewksbury Town Hall. 

Original Post- Following a Special Town Meeting vote on Tuesday to appropriate $135,000 to fund a collective bargaining agreement with the Tewksbury firefighters, the union signed an initial contract Wednesday. 

The contract provides two percent raises for fiscal year 12, FY13, FY14 and extends through FY15, with last year's raises distributed retroactively following Tuesday's Special Town Meeting vote.

Local 1647 of the International Association of Fire Fighters President Jim Giasullo said it is good to have reached a tentative agreement, and he is hoping to move forward from a lengthy negotiation with the town.

"We're tired of it hanging over our heads," Giasullo said. "Now we just want to put this behind us and move on to keep doing what we do best, saving lives."

The contract also maintains a manning clause, or townwide safety clause according to Giasullo, which mandates the fire chief's first course of action when facing reduced staffing will be closing a station. 

Keeping the manning clause was essential for union members, who felt having the required 12 people on each shift was a public safety issue. 

Selectman Chairman Scott Wilson said the manning clause, along with the recent addition of one firefighter to each shift and limiting the number of firefighters who can take time off simultaneously is expected to help keep all of the town's fire stations open year round.  

According to Wilson, the Joint Labor Management Counsel recently communicated to the town that the manning clause did not have to part of the bargaining process, but it was left in the contract. 

"For residents, I think they'll be thrilled at having the station open year round," Wilson said. "From the union standpoint we maintained the manning clause and there are great cost savings for the town. Everyone got a little bit of what they wanted."

Board of Selectmen and the union both still need to vote to approve the agreement before it's finalized, with the latter expected to take a vote on the matter at a Tuesday meeting, according to Giasullo.

"I think the majority of our firefighters are to glad to be done with this," Giasullo said. "We're tired of it hanging over our heads."

Selectmen will also review and take a vote on approving the agreement before it's finalized, according to Wilson. 

"I'm glad the deal is almost done," Wilson said. "It allows us to start the healing process, and it's important to move forward."