PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The city of Providence has reached an agreement with officials from the firefighters union following a monthslong battle over work schedules.
WPRI-TV reports the agreement was announced Monday by officials in Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza’s office. The city and the union negotiated for more than a year.
The full terms of the agreement have not yet been released. Elorza spokeswoman Emily Crowell confirmed the city will allow firefighters to return to working a four-platoon shift schedule in exchange for a reduction in the number of workers that must be on the job at all times. The minimum number will drop from 94 firefighters to 88.
In August 2015, Elorza moved the department from four platoons to three platoons in an attempt to save millions on callback overtime.
