An interest arbitration board reached a decision Tuesday regarding the FY19 firefighters’ contract, awarding an across-the-board wage increase of 2.25 percent for the July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 agreement, Mayor Joseph J. Solomon announced Wednesday.
The decision puts to rest the final issue related to negotiations that had been ongoing since the prior contract expired on June 30, 2018. Last month, the city and Union ratified a new, cost-neutral three-year agreement that extends from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. As part of those negotiations, the parties agreed to withdraw all proposals in the matter of the 2018-2019 contract except for wage increases. The union initially sought a 4 percent increase, which was later revised to 3 percent.