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EASTON, Conn. After nearly three years of negotiations, the town of Easton and the Local 1426 International Association of Firefighters have reached an agreement on a new union contract.
According to a statement from First Selectman Thomas Herrmann on Monday, the contract is effective from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2012. It is concentrated mainly on overtime pay for firefighters. Herrmann said that under the new contract, a firefighter who has worked more than 212 hours in a 28-day period is now eligible for overtime.
The firefighters had been "continuing to work under the old contact" during negotiations, he said. The OT is retroactive but only "starting with the ratification date of Dec. 27," Herrmann said.
The new three-year contract also contract calls for a wage freeze in the second fiscal year of the agreement with modest wage increases in the first and third years for an average annual increase of just over 1 percent, but without any retroactive pay increases.
The cooperation and sacrifice demonstrated by the firefighters has been outstanding. In these difficult economic times, they stepped up and agreed to increase the level of service provided to our town while reducing overtime compensation. The personal sacrifice our firefighters have demonstrated is consistent with the heroism they have become known for. We owe a great debt of gratitude for all they do in Easton.
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