Southington FD Contract Dispute Boils Over To Arbitration

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Southington Fire Department, the town's hybrid firefighting unit, has been without a contract for 930 days — slightly more than two and a half years.

Despite this, both sides remain far apart on a new deal, with the SFD's firefighter union Wednesday accusing the town of "inaction" toward both a contract and fulfilling several requests from the SFD, which is served by paid and volunteer firefighters.

Now in binding arbitration, the dispute, which for months has been behind closed doors, is out in the open via social media.

According to Ed Crandall, president of IAFF Local 2033, which represents Southington's paid firefighters, the primary issue is staffing.

It is a problem, he said, that puts both firefighters and the community at risk.

Specifically, Crandall said the union is requesting a mandatory on-duty, minimum staffing level of one officer and two firefighters on all apparatus at all times.

But if a firefighter is sick or on leave/vacation, the town allows for that ratio to be one officer and one firefighter, which Crandall said was a "cost-saving measure" on the part of the town.

The union is asking the new contract to mandate the one-and-two ratio at all times, including when some firefighters are not available.

"The unequivocal risk a two-person company presents to the Southington community and our members on a daily basis cannot be understated. The basis of our contract proposals is not asking the town to hire additional firefighters, despite overall dismal staffing levels," wrote Crandall. "We are asking the town to budget adequately to maintain all budgeted positions. The current practice of dropping one position when a member is on leave provides an estimated savings of $266,129."

Crandall also accused the town of inaction relative to a municipal report recently completed that studies fire department operations.

He said the study pointed out several concerns that have not been addressed, including staffing issues and "unacceptable" response times; "glaring political influence severely reducing the effectiveness of the department;" and meeting industry standards regarding staffing apparatus, which are higher than what Southington does already (four firefighters per apparatus being the standard, with Southington operating at three or two).

Crandall's statement was an open letter to the Southington community, imploring it for support.

"Silence does not do right by our citizens we are sworn to protect. Silence does not do right for our families that lay awake at night praying that we return safely from work the next morning," wrote Crandall.

"We are breaking the silence after years of unacceptable staffing that puts the Southington community and our firefighters at risk."

Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky Jr. said the GOP-led council does support the SFD.

But, he admitted, town officials and the firefighters union are so far apart on any contract proposal, that an arbitrator is now being utilized.

"Many meetings and many discussions have occurred between the parties and their representatives during this period and, now, the matter now sits with arbitrators who will manage the process and timeline," Chaplinsky said in a statement recently.

Chaplinsky said in his statement last week that local officials have always backed the SFD.

He pointed out, that despite the lack of a contract, the town has hired five new firefighters; upgraded SFD facilities; purchased three new fire trucks; and purchased a new ladder truck, among other actions.

Chaplinsky said local officials cannot comment much on the arbitration process, as legal arbitrators are now mulling the proposals and the town/fire department is awaiting an answer.

"I ask that we now respect the arbitrators and the arbitration process and allow it to work as designed," Chaplinsky said.

The SFD contract issue is expected to be on the Southington Town Council's Jan. 22 meeting agenda next week. The council meets at 7 p.m. at the town's municipal center, 196 N. Main St., Southington.

Crandall is urging the public to show up and support their local firefighters.

Chaplinsky, meanwhile, said that support also includes the council.

"I would, however, like to state that I believe the entire Southington Town Council fully supports the Southington Fire Department and its leadership and has, in an ongoing basis, demonstrated this in various ways," said Chaplinsky.