PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — An attorney representing Rhode Island in a lawsuit brought over its failed $75 million deal with ex-Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s video game company 38 Studios will advise Providence officials in an ongoing dispute with city firefighters.
City council President Luis Aponte tells WPRI-TV Max Wistow was hired to advise the council on how settlement negotiations between the city and firefighters union are progressing. Wistow will not be assisting the city with negotiations.
The union filed suit over Mayor Jorge Elorza’s decision to restructure the department from four platoons to three, increasing firefighters’ base workweeks from an average of 42 hours to 56 hours. The union contract is set to expire June 30, 2017.
The administration is appealing a judge’s decision to order the two sides to grievance arbitration.
