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Amherst Fire Fighters Local 1764
Affiliated with:
International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIOProfessional
Fire Fighters of Massachusetts
PO Box 1234 Amherst, Massachusetts 01004-1234
December 30, 2013FOR IMMEDITE RELEASE
The members of Amherst Fire Fighters Local 1764 IAFF are pleased
to announce ratification of a
Collective Bargaining Agreement between the union membership and
the Town of Amherst. A three year
agreement, it encompasses the time period of July 2013 through
June 2016.
A safer community, properly staffed fire engines, available
ambulances, firefighter safety, and adequate
service to our citizens were the main goals of the members of
Local 1764 throughout the bargaining
process. Within this new agreement, during the college academic
school year, it calls for the town to
increase the on-duty staffing philosophy from a seven
firefighter minimum to an eight firefighter minimum.
Firefighters will receive a 6% cost of living increase over the
three years of the agreement. Though, unlike
the other bargaining units in town, firefighters deferred 1% for
the first six months of year one of theagreement. This deferral has
direct correlation with the firefighters desire to see an increase
in on-duty
staffing, a step that has been needed for years.
In addition the agreement includes the adoption of a Drug and
Alcohol policy in accord with other fire
labor unions in the Commonwealth, a wage adjustment for the Fire
Prevention Division, and other minor
adjustments.
Union President Stephen P. Gaughan states, This is a fair and
equitable agreement for the members of
Local 1764, and the Town of Amherst. We appreciate the
collective small step the town has taken toward
improved staffing. Within this agreement, the firefighters
deferred wage increases to see a better service for
the citizens.
While this will provide one more firefighter on duty nine months
out of the year, it does nothing to improve
staffing and service to the citizens of Amherst who live in town
the remaining three months. Improving
staffing those three remaining months need to be a future goal
for the citizens of Amherst.
We appreciate the recent efforts of the Town Manager John
Musante, and the University of Massachusetts,
to cooperatively find ways to improve the number of on-duty
firefighters. It is our hope that in time, the
Amherst Fire Department will increase its staffing to bring us
in accord with what is nationally accepted as
adequate staffing.
While this negotiating process did require the involvement of
the Joint Labor Management Committee,
Local 1764 recognizes the efforts of Town Manager John Musante
stepping in to bring this agreement to
completion.
For Clarification or Comment Please Contact: Stephen P Gaughan,
President, Amherst Fire FightersLocal 1764 IAFF at (413)
626-4955
