Board of Aldermen 12-08-2020 Page 23
Alderman Schmidt
No, not really. Would it be possible for someone who was in the negotiating team with the Fire Union to
speak to my question or is that right out at this point?
President Wilshire
Without objection from the Board, we could do that. No one objects to that? We could ask Chief Rhodes?
Chief Rhodes, Nashua Fire Department
Good evening, | think to that question president Wholey is here. And to all due respect to President Wholey
he would be best to answer that question and if you would indulge him a little bit. Tom has been thrust into
this position fairly recently back in July. So the procedure may be a little off but | think if you would allow
Tom to speak to this, | think he could shed some light on the subject.
President Wilshire
Mr. Wholey?
Mr. Wholey
Good evening Madam Chair, Board of Aldermen. | hope | can speak on the subject again. If | can just
answer question is that what we are looking for?
President Wilshire
Yes.
Mr. Wholey
Ok so it is a cohesive document, this Collective Bargaining Agreement, so if you shoot down an item at this
time, it needs to go back to the table. When you come to the CBA like this, we have members that could
have voted on any provision inside that contract and we can’t say if the majority of our Union wanted that
incentive or that line item. I’ve talked to our legal side, our legal attorney, he said it’s a cohesive document
like | repeated and it is not divisible by Law. We will go back to the bargaining table, I’ve expressed that as
my concern, | took over as Union President in July and it is now December and | stand before you, looking
to get this contract passed. So that’s our stance the International Association of Firefighters, our third
district president who represents New England has been in touch with Washington and if they found that
this way going on and we are stepping outside of Collective Bargaining which is our right, then they will
step in too. So | just want to stress that it’s not an option.
President Wilshire
Alderman Tencza?
Alderman Tencza
Thank you, Madam President. And | would hope and maybe Corporation Counsel can clarify this, is this
something that we have to vote on tonight or else the Mayor’s veto stands so essentially if we don’t vote on
it tonight this provision will be annexed from the contract right now, correct?
Attorney Bolton
You could table it and take it up at your next meeting.
