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Date: 5/9/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council approved the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Firefighters Local 648 and the city during its May 1 meeting.
On April 18, Mayor Domenic Sarno and Human Resources and Labor Relations Director William Mahoney announced that the IAFF Local 648, the union representing Springfield firefighters, voted to ratify their new labor contract with the city.
Mahoney said they have settled two contracts with the union.
The association represents 251 members within the Springfield Fire Department including privates, captains and lieutenants.
Mahoney said negotiations began on Jan. 22, 2021. There were approximately 14 bargaining sessions, three mediation sessions and a scheduled 3(a) hearing with the state’s Joint Labor Management Committee in Worcester. “We were fortunate that we were able to reach terms before that hearing commenced on March 28,” he shared.
The ratified contract retroactively covers the period from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024, and includes a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5% for each year.
Mahoney said they have added Juneteenth as a paid holiday under this contract and included a $300 tool allowance for a handful of apparatus repair people in the department.
Employees that are under the 10-year residence requirement of this contract will now be required to fill out annual residency certificates. Other additions include documentation dates for the education benefit and EMT certification.
In a written statement, Sarno thanked Mahoney, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi, Deputy Chief Michael Hess, Springfield Fire Department Chief Financial Officer Erica Floyd, IAFF Local 648 President Lt. Brian Ward and Union leadership for their collaborative efforts and negotiations for a “fair” and “mutually beneficial contract for all parties.”
“I deeply appreciate the continued efforts from our brave and dedicated men and women of our Springfield Fire Department,” Sarno said.
Conjointly with the bargain agreement, the City Council approved the free cash transfer of $2.9 million to the Fire Department for the contract settlement.
Springfield’s Deputy Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Lindsey Hackett explained that the transfer from free cash to the Fire Department salary line in the budget covers retroactive pay for FY21, 22 and 23.