Newton firefighters awarded retro pay and benefits

A month after entering their sixth year without a contract, Newton firefighters got word Wednesday of a ruling by state arbitrators that awards union members with retroactive compensation and benefits.

The binding Joint Labor Management Committee decision covers "salary and other compensation adjustments, health insurance benefits, and other aspects of working conditions within the Fire Department," and describes the types of retroactive compensations that are due, according to city spokesman Jeremy Solomon.

Solomon and Tom Lopez, spokesman for the firefighter union, said they would not comment until they had an opportunity to review the decision thoroughly. Solomon said the ruling is not a public document until aldermen approve funding for the award. The city administration has 30 days to docket a funding request with the board. The city is in the process of calculating a dollar amount.

Newton firefighters have been without a contract since June 30, 2003.

--Rachana Rathi