Contract negotiations between the city of Lewiston and its firefighters have gone into overtime, but union members will finally vote on a tentative agreement next week.
Capt. Chris Jacks, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1773, said past contracts typically have been signed by the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1. But this year’s negotiations were drawn out as the union learned to work with new City Manager Alan Nygaard and worked out disagreements over sick leave and health insurance.
“It’s not the best thing in the world, but it’s a fair contract,” Jacks said. “And that’s what we were shooting for.” The union has been looking at leaving the city’s health insurance trust for the Northwest Fire Fighters Benefits Trust since it ratified the last contract three years ago. But Nygaard said the city was able to convince the union to stay put by showing its members how leaving would harm their fellow city employees.