Middletown City Council has unanimously rejected a fact-finders report in its contract negotiations with its fire union.
The city and the Middletown Firefighters Association, Local 336, International Association of Fire Fighters, have been in negotiations for a new contract as the previous three-year contract expired on Dec. 31, 2017. All but three articles in the contract have been agreed to by both parties and a fact-finding hearing was held on April 30. Those contract issues concern insurance, promotions within rank, and wages.
The union represents 74 members including firefighters, fire lieutenants, fire captains and deputy fire chiefs. The fire chief and assistant fire chief are excluded.
Susan Cohen, city general counsel, declined to comment on report. She said the next step would be conciliation which is binding arbitration to resolve unsettled contract issues.