IAFF and city back to collective bargaining

Ocean City’s firefighter and emergency services union wants to come back to the bargaining table to break the impasse with the Ocean City Council over its proposed new contract, and is willing to consider schedules that differ from its current 24 hours on-duty and 72 hours off-duty.

That is the union’s conclusion, following the failure last month of the two parties to work out their differences in mediation.

The shift schedule has been the point of contention between both parties since first negotiations broke down in February 2016. At the moment, the “best and final” offer that was accepted by the City Council as the three-year contract includes 12-hour shifts.

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