They're some of Hoboken's bravest emergency responders, and they've remained on-duty for 246 weeks without a work contract. But the clock is ticking, and they deserve a new deal by the end of the year, according to the City Council.
During a public meeting on Monday, the Hoboken City Council unanimously approved a resolution that urges Mayor Ravinder Bhalla to jump start a new deal with the Hoboken Fire Officers Association Local 1076 and International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO, which represent dozens of Hoboken Fire Department officers.
Showing up en masse at the meeting, several of the officers told council members that the latest round of negotiations – which kicked off April 4 – have been unfruitful. They argued that the current deal on the table includes "exorbitant givebacks," cuts in longevity pay and vacation days and "very minimal" salary increases compared to raises given to other union workers in the city, NJ.com reported.