LYNN — Contract negotiations have stalled between the city and the fire department’s union.
In response to Lynn Fire Fighters Local 739’s decision to seek arbitration, the city has opted to hire a financial consultant to compile a comparative wage and benefit analysis report to support its case.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to negotiations, we’ve managed to reach an agreement with the teachers, with the police,” said John Slattery, the city’s labor counsel. “We have tentative agreements with a number of the other unions, but the fire department has remained apart.”
The City Council voted, 10-1, Tuesday night to transfer $25,000 from a reserve account to the chief financial officer’s budget to cover the cost of the report.
The report will compare the salaries and benefits of Lynn’s firefighters to the other municipalities for the purposes of arbitration, which Slattery said would support the city’s opinion and testimony during a potential Joint Labor and Management Committee (JLMC) hearing. The consultant would also serve as an expert witness, he said.
It was the union’s decision to petition for arbitration with the JLMC, which assists in resolving collective bargaining disputes between municipalities and their police and firefighters. The firefighters’ union has already enlisted an expert to compile a similar report to support their case, according to Slattery.
“I think it’s an important time to level the playing field at the arbitration,” said Slattery. “It’s also important to help inform our discussions with the firefighters in hopes that we can avoid arbitration and reach (an agreement).”
Slattery said the city did not have an outside financial expert the last time it was involved in a JLMC arbitration case, which was in 2016. In that instance, the city lost and was ordered to pay $2.4 million.
However, not everyone on the City Council favored the decision to go forward with a wage analysis report. Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton, a retired Lynn firefighter, voted against the proposal.
“I’m chairman of public safety and whenever they’re looking to cut in public safety, I’m betting against it and that’s why I believe they’re doing that study,” said Barton. “They’re having problems in negotiations and they’re trying to use that as leverage for the city, for cuts, and I can’t vote for that. I’ll never be in favor of anybody cutting public safety.”
Sean Martin, president of Lynn Fire Fighters Local 739, did not return calls seeking comment. Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer declined comment, citing ongoing negotiations.
