Independence Township and the township’s firefighters have achieved an historic labor contract.
Their last agreement expired at the end of 2020, and the two sides’ efforts led to a new agreement, which runs through 2026, marked by final approval June 21 by the Township Board of Trustees.
“This is a win-win-win contract,” said Township Fire Chief Dave Piche. “A win for the township, a win for the firefighters, and a win for the people served by our professional firefighters. The new agreement provides the basis for successfully recruiting and retaining qualified professionals to serve the community.”
For the first time in the history of these negotiations, both the township board and the firefighters unanimously approved the contract.
Frankie Cruz, president of Independence Firefighters, Local 2629, said, “We have taken a big step in the area of pensions that will allow the township to budget more efficiently in the future. This contract will ensure that our fire department is more comparable with other departments in the region and help our recruitment and retention, which is a very large concern across the state.”
— Matt Mackinder