City government, firefighters unions to go to arbitration

The city of Havre and the union representing firefighters will go to arbitration on the terms of its labor contract.

Mayor Tim Solomon said the two sides are at loggerheads after going through mediation and fact finding.

The contract expired in July 2014, he said, and efforts to reach an agreement haven’t been fruitful.

He said the talks haven’t been acrimonious, just not fruitful.

“It really comes down to money,” he said.

The union contends that the city has more money it can pay firefighters with, while the city says it doesn’t, he said.

Under state law, state officials provide a list of potential arbitrators to the two sides. Then each side gets to strike the names of people they don’t want. That process is taking place now, the mayor said.

Then, city officials and union representatives will make their case orally and in writing to the arbitrator. The arbitrator will then make a decision on what the contract should look like.

The ruling is binding on both sides. The city has come to terms with two employee unions, while talks with the police and fire unions have not yielded a contract.

“The police are sitting back waiting on the firefighters,” Solomon said.

Union officials were not available for comment.