Boston fire contract battle moves a step closer to arbitration
By John C. Drake, Globe Staff
A state labor panel ruled today that the contentious contract dispute between the city of Boston and its firefighters has gone on long enough, and must be resolved or sent to binding arbitration.
The Joint Labor Management Committee's vote to authorize arbitration had been opposed by firefighters.
But Judge Sam Zoll, chairman of the committee, said, "This has to be resolved."
The next step, while the sides continue in mediation, will be for the committee to meet again and decide whether the thorny issue of random drug and alcohol testing, a late addition to the city's list of demands, would be included in the arbitration. There was no timeline set for when arbitration could begin.
City officials hailed the decision as a positive sign for taxpayers, while union representatives said the committee was caving in to pressure from City Hall and had compromised its neutrality.
The Menino administration asked for the drug and alcohol testing after a tragic fire claimed the lives of two firefighters last fall. Leaked autopsy results for the two men revealed that one had high blood alcohol levels -- more than three times the legal limit for drivers -- and the other had traces of cocaine in his system.
Union representatives insist they are not opposed to such testing, but say they want concessions from the city in exchange for it.
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