Framingham Residents Vote Overwhelmingly To Fund Firefighter Contract; Atty Barrault and Local 1652 Prevent Concessions

This past Monday, residents at the Town Meeting of Framingham, voted almost unanimously, to fund the modest wage increases awarded by an arbitration panel that included PFFM District Vice President Richard MacKinnon earlier this month. The vote caps a long battle by Attorney Leah Barrault and Local 1652, IAFF to stave off concessions demanded by the financially stable Town.

As a condition of receiving only negligble wage increases, the Town demanded that Local 1652 reduce sick leave by one-third and to have reduced flexibility on using vacation leave. The arbitration panel agreed with the Union on these counts, and granted a wage increase that is one percent higher than the Town's offer.

After the award was issued, Town officials worked to delay Town Meeting's vote on whether to fund it. Town Meeting, following litigation from Attorneys Barrault and Russell, thankfully agreed to allow a vote on the issue. It passed almost unanimously.