Westford tentatively agrees to three-year firefighters contract after nearly two years without one

Westford and the Westford Firefighters Union (IAFF Local 3126) outlined a tentative three-year contract on April 7 that town officials described as “competitive and fiscally responsible,” but not yet final.

The union said firefighters had worked without a contract for 641 days, straining recruitment and staffing and prompting concerns about the town’s ability to maintain emergency services. Union leaders previously criticized delays in mediation and alleged underfunding of the department; the union said neighboring communities offering higher pay made recruitment more difficult.

Select Board member Shaun Kelly, who took part in negotiations, said the agreement reflects an effort to balance fair compensation for firefighters with fiscal responsibility to taxpayers. “There’s a lot of complexity to this, and there are things that need to be balanced,” Kelly said. “We want to give a contract that recognizes our firefighters and how they dedicate their lives to Westford, but that also has to be balanced against our duty to the taxpayer.”

Town officials noted voters at the recent annual town meeting approved additional funding for the fire department, including investments in vehicles and equipment, which officials said helped make the agreement possible. The parties said they collaborated to find common ground; union ratification and final town approval are required before the contract takes effect.

No formal vote or amendment text was presented on air; the hosts said the agreement still needs union ratification and “final approval,” and gave no timetable for that process. The news show did not broadcast the contract’s salary figures, step increases or other specific economic terms.

If ratified, the agreement would end the period firefighters worked without a contract and, town officials said, support continued staffing and equipment investments for emergency response.