A day after arguing in the state’s appellate court in Rochester, the city and the firefighters union were back at it again on Thursday making their points about the four-year labor contract stalemate.
Attorneys for the city and the Watertown Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 191 presented their sides during an all-day “interest arbitration” session on the overall firefighters’ contract.
Arbitrator Jay Siegel is hearing the two-day interest arbitration. It will be decided by a three-person panel consisting of Mr. Siegel, as an impartial member, and a member each representing the union and the city.
Under interest arbitration, Mr. Siegel will decide the nuts and bolts of the contract on such issues such as how much firefighters are paid and how much they pay for health benefits.