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Boston firefighters union, city reach deal on new contract – Metro US

Boston firefighters union, city reach deal on new contract

boston fire truck A Boston Fire Department truck.
Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki/METRO

The city and the firefighter’s union reached a deal on a new contract, both sides said over the weekend.

Details of the new contract were not released, but Local 718 President Rich Paris said in a statement he was “grateful” to Mayor Marty Walsh for getting the deal done.

Walsh, in a statement, said he was “extremely pleased” the two sides were able to reach a tentative agreement.

“All parties came to the table with mutual respect and open minds, willing to reach a compromise that serves the best interests of the City of Boston — for firefighters and taxpayers,” Walsh said.

The deal means it is the first time the two sides have avoided going to arbitration since 2001.

Union members and the city council still have to vote on the contract.

In December, the City Council approved a new contract with the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.

Both sides went to arbitration, which led to the awarding of a 25.4 percent pay increase over six years for officers.

In 2010, after a contentious back-and-forth, the Boston firefighter’s union and city agreed to a more than 19 percent raise over five years. The deal included a 1.5 percent increase for agreeing to mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.