Firefighters in Saint John may soon have a new contract after more than two years without one.
A tentative agreement has been reached between the city and the Saint John Firefighters Association IAFF Local 771.
“Representatives of the bargaining team were challenged with the fiscal realities and worked collaboratively to reach this tentative agreement,” the city said in a news release on Wednesday.
The tentative agreement was reached on Tuesday, one day after it was revealed that the city had filed for binding arbitration months earlier.
“Although we continue to try to work with our fire union to achieve a possible collective agreement, we have filed for binding arbitration, and it is not probable that that will be completed by the end of the year,” city manager John Collin told council Monday night during an update on the city’s annual work plan.
In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson said the city filed for “conciliation” — the first step in the process that could potentially lead to binding arbitration — on Oct. 21, 2021.
“The process continues to unfold and, until formal decisions are made, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” Lisa Caissie, director of external relations, wrote in an email.
Details about the agreement are not being released until both sides have a chance to ratify it.
Council will be asked to approve it at an upcoming special meeting, while the association will ask its membership for ratification at a separate meeting.
The two sides have been without a contract since the end of 2019. Negotiations began in February 2020.
