After Years-Long Battle, North Kingstown and Firefighters Agree to New Contract

After years of back-and-forth negotiations and a lengthy court dispute, the town of North Kingstown and the local firefighters union have come to terms on a new contract through 2019 that is projected to save the town $12.9 million.

The new contract terms cover the period from July 1 of 2013 through June 30 of 2016 and July 1 of 2016 through June 30 of 2019.

Under the terms of the contract, firefighters will agree to a three-platoon, 56-hour work week with a schedule “to be mutually agreed to by the town and the union,” according to a fiscal note prepared by Town Manager Michael Embury.

The union has agreed to pay 20 percent copayments for health and dental coverage — an increase from 15 percent.

The dental plan will be upgraded to equal the police union plan and there are other changes to health and prescription plans with substantial increases, such as ER visits going to $100 from $25, primary care visits doubling from $10 to $20 other similar increases.

Firefighters will get four percent raises retroactive in 2013 through 2014 and in the current year. After that, they’ll get three percent raises over the next four contract years.

The contract also eliminates family sick leave substitute bereavement leave and implements a 36-hour per year maximum for immediate family, such a parent, child, spouse or sibling.

Longevity pay gets trimmed at the 5, 10, 15 and 20 year levels from 5 to 4 percent, 6 to 5 percent, 7.5 percent to 6 and 10 to 8 percent, respectively. Members with 25 years will remain at 11 percent.

The contract, if ratified, would put an end to the ongoing legal disputes that have plagued firefighter morale and been a source of frustration for town officials.

“All litigation, interest arbitration, grievances and other claims or controversies existing between the town and union are intended to be settled,” the impact note states.

A request for comment from Raymond Furtardo, president of the Local 1651, was not immediately returned.

The savings for the town will come primarily through the 3 platoon, 56-hour workweek schedule. The adjustment saved $1.7 million in 2013 and is expected to save nearly $2 million each year through the life of the contract.

The salary increases, on the other hand, would only increase the annual fire budget by about $175,000 per year on average thanks to the concessions in benefits and other cost savings.