Gloucester City Firemen List Reasons for Breaking Off Contract Negotiations with Mayor and Council

\”Anything less and Mayor James could feel the guilt a previous administration suffered when staffing shortages contributed to the deaths of three children and three firefighters on July 4, 2002. We wish no such horrible guilt on Mayor James.\” Jerry Hubbs, Union representative for Locals 51 and Local 251

Jerry Hubbs, a spokesperson for Locals 51 and Local 251, the unions that represent \"N114007471967364_3123\" Gloucester City firemen released the following statement last week to the Gloucester City News about why the unions cancelled the verbal agreement that was made with the taxpayers of Gloucester City on June 30. The statement reads as follows,

 \”Like the taxpayers of Gloucester City, we firefighters of FMBA Locals 51 and 251 feel the affects of the worst economy in 80 years. We are also taxpayers, and realize difficult financial decisions and belt tightening are necessary. Like our neighbors, we want to keep our jobs, and like firefighters around the state and across the country, we must protect our community.

\” In contract negotiations with City government, FMBA Locals 51 and 251 faced the possibility of losing eight total firefighter/EMTS through layoffs. To avoid falling below even the current minimum staffing levels, we agreed to no salary increases for three years, a freeze in longevity pay and elimination for new hiree’s, and other key concessions totaling approximately $500,000.

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