Residents’ petition supports Fairfield first responders

Firefighters contract with town expired in 2021, negotiations in arbitration

FAIRFIELD — Residents have started a petition to support first responders as the town and firefighters’ union go through arbitration to come to an agreement on a contract after the old one expired in 2021.

“Waiting for over 552 days for their contract to be renewed is unconscionable! Sign this petition to bring the Town’s attention to this matter and get them paid,” resident Lynn Moore said in the petition description. “Fairfield Fire Fighters Association IAFF 1426 are devoted and committed to their mission — protecting us. They take an oath to follow and enforce the Constitution, State Statutes, and local regulations protecting the members of our society from harm.”

The collective bargaining agreement between the town and the union expired on June 30, 2021. The town and the union engaged in negotiations for several months starting in March of 2021. They’re working on a new contract while the firefighters work under the old one.

More than 320 people have signed the petition since it was created about two weeks ago, with the goal set at 500 signatures. Moore noted firefighters have jobs that place them at greater risk for injury, illness or death.

Moore did not return requests for comment.

“Unlike the private sector, they cannot climb from job to job seeking better working conditions, higher wages, and better benefits,” she said in the petition. “Their families shouldn’t be undercompensated for their dedication to service and our community.”

William Tuttle, the president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1426, said arbitration has been continuing along, and all the testimony and evidence of the respective sides has been submitted. He said they expect a ruling by the end of April

or beginning of May.

“If it’s based just on the evidence, I feel very confident,” he said. “I think we presented facts that were very hard for the town to refute.”

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in a statement that the town is actively engaged in negotiations with the union both behind the scenes and formally through arbitration.

“We have made a good faith effort to work towards an agreement, which is still in progress as of today,” she said. “Union leadership chose to file for arbitration last year instead of accepting our offer for mediation. I took the initiative to reach out last fall in an effort to initiate off the record negotiations again.”

Tuttle said the decision to file for arbitration came last year after negotiations with the town broke down. The tone of conversations between the town and the union have been tense, with officials on both sides criticizing each other for their statements to the public and behind closed doors.

“Our relationship with the town has devolved to where we don’t talk,” Tuttle said, later adding firefighters are treated as third-class town employees. “We’re obviously very adversarial.”

Kupchick did not agree with Tuttle’s assessment, saying characterizing the town as dismissive and adversarial while it is “engaged in good faith efforts is very disappointing and simply inaccurate.”

“We have sincerely been working toward a deal,” she said. “I join our Fairfield Firefighters in wanting a resolution of a fair contract — fair for the department and also fair for the taxpayers we serve.”

Town officials have said the union requested a 4 percent step increase and a 4 percent general wage increase effective July 1 of last year.

Tuttle said the union is asking for a 4 percent yearly wage increase, noting they had cited 7 percent inflation as evidence that they would be taking a pay cut if they accepted the town’s offer, which he said was 1.25 percent annual raises for four years, and later bumped up to to 2 percent with several conditions.

According to information provided by union leadership, firefighters in Fairfield start with a wage of $66,459, while assistant chiefs start at $102,702.

Other fire officials have said Fairfield’s firefighters are being paid less than those working in other municipalities in the area. They have also said town firefighters make about $5 less an hour than patrol officers in the police department.

Tuttle said the union has been getting a lot of positive feedback from the community in support of their side of negotiations. He said he does not know Moore, but appreciates the morale boost it gave to the department to see people care.