The Boston Firefighters' Union met with members of City Council to complain that the city had "unfairly tarnished" their reputation. The meeting, which was criticized by mayoral aides as a distraction to ongoing labor negotiations, came in response to recent reports in the media alleging widespread substance abuse, pension fraud, and other offenses by city firefighters. The most contentious issue between firefighters and the mayor's office in the contract renegotiations is the proposal to require mandatory random drug testing of all firefighters. Both sides will appear before a state labor panel to help intervene in the stalled talks.
See "Fire union airs gripes before the City Council", John C. Drake, The Boston Globe, February 7, 2008