Mitchell Legally Tight-Lipped On Arbitration Award for Firefighters

Next week, the City Council will take a vote on an arbitration award that will grant New Bedford firefighters a 7.5% raise over the next three years. The entire package will cost taxpayers $4.1 million dollars, which will come out of the City's General Fund.

Mayor Jon Mitchell can't say much on the matter, however, since he's legally barred from expressing his opinion about the contract.

The contract also supplies a $2,500 lump sum payment to each firefighter upon approval by the City Council.

The Council meets Tuesday. If they fail to approve the contract, the City and the Firefighters Union must return to the bargaining table.