Still no contracts for police, fire unions
By Andrea Gregory

City officials say they are frustrated at the lack progress in the negotiations for a new firefighter’s union contract, and are blaming the union workers for “a retreat from previous progress.” The city also reported “still no progress with the police union."

  ‚ÄúSomerville Firefighter Local 76 have rejected the latest contract offer from the City of Somerville, and proposed new terms that represent a retreat from previous progress in the negotiations,‚Äù stated the administration of Mayor Joseph. A Curtatone in a press release issued last week.
  The president of the fire union was not available for comment.
  President of the Somerville Police Employees Association (SPEA) Jack Leuchter said he understands what the firefighters are going through since his union is also struggling to achieve what he considers an acceptable contract.
  ‚ÄúThe fire department has raised an issue, and I don‚Äôt blame them,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúThe problem has been the city.‚Äù
  Both unions have teamed up in a picketing campaign over the past several weeks.
  ‚ÄúI am at my wits end as far as negotiations with the city,‚Äù said Leuchter. ‚ÄúThis is the most ridiculous negotiation process I have ever dealt with‚Äù
  Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said the city is working with both unions. He stressed that both of the unions have different issues and they are not necessarily fighting for the same things. Curtatone said the city is trying to reach agreements with both unions despite the allegations from picketing union workers.
  ‚ÄúThere have been allegations that the city has not been bargaining in good faith. The city has been at the table the whole time,‚Äù said Curtatone.
  According to Leuchter, the SPEA received its first written proposal from the city about two weeks ago. Although not able to go into too many details about the offer, he said it does not meet the needs of the union. However, having something in writing is a starting off point, he added.
  ‚ÄúThe main sticking point is that they weren‚Äôt negotiating,‚Äù said Leuchter about the city. ‚ÄúThey had never put it in writing. They finally gave us vague written proposal.‚Äù
Leuchter said one of the big issues for his police union is that the contract be for more than two years. He said the union is already working with a contract that expired three years ago. He said ideally contracts should catch up to the present and offer “at least a year of peace” before negotiations begin again.
  A major issue the city has focused on during negotiations across the board is the rising cost of health insurance. Thomas P. Champion, spokesman for the city, said 18 percent of Somerville‚Äôs budget goes toward health insurance. He said the overall budget was increased by $7.5 million from the last fiscal year to this one. He said $2 million of that was just for health insurance.
  ‚ÄúThis is certainly not an issue that is limited to Somerville,‚Äù said Champion.
The new contracts for other departments have included a 5 percent increase to the amount employees pay for their health coverage.
  Leuchter said his union has offered to accept a 10 percent increase and support for the police reorganization in exchange for other demands, including a longer contract term. He said when his union offered that to the city eight months ago, he expected serious talks and a quick resolution.
  ‚ÄúUnfortunately, I don‚Äôt see an early resolution to this,‚Äù said Leuchter. ‚ÄúIt just turned into a joke.‚Äù
Leuchter said the mayor seems to be taking the picketing personally. He mentioned the seizing of person property out of a fire station as one of the mayor’s moves that was viewed as retaliation.
  ‚ÄúThat was done out of sheer anger. It is just silliness. Politicians are not supposed to wage war. Joe just wants to show everyone he‚Äôs tough,‚Äù said Leutcher. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm quite sure he is still trying to figure out something to get back at us. It does say something about the legitimacy of this administration.‚Äù
  Curtatone said the unions do have the right to picket, but their choice to go down that road has not played a role in the way he does his job. Leuchter said the picketing might be working since now his union has a written proposal in hand.
  ‚ÄúI guess the pickets are working somewhat,‚Äù said Leuchter. ‚ÄúWe are going to keep trying to negotiate and we are going to keep picketing until we get this resolved.‚Äù