Firefighter Contract Close, Says Union Head

This article was amended Aug. 16 at 8:15 a.m.

East Greenwich firefighters may have a contract by early September, if current optimism holds, according to parties involved in the negotiations. 

That's a stark turnaround from what was evolving under the former EG Fire District, which was taken over by the town through state legislation signed into law in May. Earlier in the spring, the fire district administration and the firefighters union had reached an impasse in contract negotiations, calling for binding arbitration sessions. 

But with the firefighters now employed by the town, the two sides decided to try to settle the contract without arbitration, which isn't slated to begin until the fall. 

They've met four times so far, said firefighters union president Bill Perry.

"Great progress. It looks like we're going to have a deal made," he said Tuesday. "It still has to be ratified by the Town Council and we still have to type everything up but there's been great progress."

When asked why progress was being made now, Perry said, "The difference is here we have people we can work with. Before, we didn't have people we could work with." 

Union leadership is negotiating with Interim Town Manager Tom Coyle and Town Solicitor Peter Clarkin. Once a tentative contract is agreed upon, both the Town Council and the full union will need to ratify it. 

Coyle said Tuesday negotiations were moving in a positive direction.

According to Perry, much of the heavy lifting is done, but a couple of issues have yet to be settled. He would not say identify the issues.

One change that is probably part of the ongoing negotiations is a switch to a "high deductible" health care plan, something the Town Council has pushed in contract negotiations with the three other municipal unions this past year.

The police signed a new contract in January. The DPW (laborers) and NEA (office workers) contracts are still being negotiated, but are close to being finalized, according to Town Council President Michael Isaacs. 

Under the new health care plan, which the police agreed to, everyone would have a high deductible. For an individual, that would mean they would pay out of pocket up to $2,000 for medical visits and prescription medications, and the town would kick in half ($1,000). For a family, that deductible is $4,000, with the town paying $2,000. After reaching the deductible, a person would then have most services covered with no co-pay. 

"There are still a couple major hurdles, but we're willing to work with the town to move forward," said Perry, "and both sides are working hard."