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Town approves three‑year firefighters contract with pay and stipend increases
Summary
Westborough town meeting funded implementation of a three‑year collective bargaining agreement for firefighters (July 2023–July 2026), including base wage increases, higher EMT and paramedic stipends, Juneteenth holiday pay and increased clothing allowance; appropriation carried 300–54.
Voters on Oct. 21 approved funding to implement a successor three‑year collective bargaining agreement for Westborough firefighters covering the period that began July 1, 2023 and runs through July 30, 2026. The funding motion carried by a large margin (300 in favor, 54 opposed).
Shelby Marshall, presenting the motion, summarized the principal economic elements: negotiated base wage increases of 2% for FY24 and FY25 and 2.5% for FY26; EMT stipends increasing in steps to $3,300 FY24, $3,700 FY25 and $4,500 FY26; paramedic stipends rising to $9,500 FY24, $10,000 FY25 and $12,500 FY26; holiday pay for Juneteenth; and a $100 annual increase in the clothing allowance over the contract term. Marshall said the agreement is subject to the town meeting funding the items this evening.
The appropriation uses a combination of free cash and the FY25 operating budget lines as described in the warrant. Town staff will implement wage adjustments and stipend changes through regular payroll processes and report back on costs in the town’s financial reporting cycle.
