Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westford firefighters say they’ve gone 590 days without a contract; town manager says negotiations ongoing
Summary
The Westford Firefighters Association said members have been 590 days without a contract, listing recruitment and wage concerns; Town Manager Kristen Lass said negotiations are in progress but she could not disclose details while bargaining continues.
The Westford Firefighters Association posted that its members have been 590 days without a contract, saying the town has not offered competitive wages after years of bargaining and mediation.
The union's social‑media statement listed specific concerns: competition from other towns that may recruit Westford firefighters with higher wages; the cost and level of EMS training; equipment without sufficient staffing to operate it; a national recruitment crisis; longer response times tied to staffing shortages; and the effect of no contract on continuity of care and public trust.
The statement said, "The town has yet to offer an agreement we feel is fair and competitive and continues to refuse to settle." The union added that firefighters "remain committed to serving this community, but we deserve a contract that reflects the work we do and the risks we take. We are ready to settle a fair deal at any time."
Westford Town Manager Kristen Lass responded to Westford Cat that negotiations are underway but she was "not at liberty to share more since negotiations remain unsettled." The transcript shows the town has not reached an agreement as of the broadcast.
Next steps: union leadership and town negotiators continue bargaining; no formal vote or binding action was reported on the record during the broadcast.
