A long-running municipal labor dispute has finally be settled in the largest city in western Massachusetts.
By a one vote margin, the Springfield City Council approved a new contract for the city’s district fire chiefs – their first in six years.
Three times in the last two years, proposed contracts were rejected after complaints by councilors who argued a residency requirement should be enforced retroactively.
William Mahoney the city’s director of labor relations said the residency clause will apply to all future chiefs.
" This is their entire career in this bargaining unit they are going to be living in the city," said Mahoney.
The contract calls for 2 percent annual pay raises, retroactive to July 1st 2013.
