After three years without a contract, the patrolmen’s union vote on the first reasonable proposal to be presented to them. Most of those involved don’t quite understand the complexities involved in trying to negotiate union contracts with municipalities, so to get to this point has been a frustratingly long and time consuming process. It’s been a long time coming.

The men and women who comprise this union put themselves in harm’s way every day and they deserve an equitable contract that will protect them and their families if something should happen to them while on the job.

In Somerville, police can find themselves facing off against dangerous gunmen one moment and resolving family disputes the next. They deserve not only our respect, but the respect of City Hall.

The administration should be proud that they could finally produce a proposal worthy to be brought before the union to vote on, whether it is accepted or not, because it’s a step in the right direction and it shows that both sides are finally moving past petty bickering and being serious.