Catherwood LibraryILR School

New York City?s firefighters? union was quick to take notice of the new tentative contract agreement between the city and the United Federation of Teachers (see yesterday?s WIT), and ask for similar terms in a contract for its members. The Uniform Firefighters Association decided not to take a tentative thirty-month contract agreement including two five percent raises to its members last year---asking for improved benefits and pay in light of the deaths of 343 firefighters in the World Trade Center attacks. Working without a contract for over eighteen months now, firefighters say that the city can use federal funds offered after the September 11 attacks to pay for improved raises---just as a state payment to NYC?s schools was earmarked for raises in the new teachers? contract.