North Kingstown Town Council rejects tentative deal with firefighters

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- The North Kingstown Town Council unanimously rejected a tentative contract with the town's firefighters union in executive session Saturday. The deal had been ratified by the union membership Friday.

The contract would have resolved a dispute between the town and the union over the implementation of a 24-hour shifts for firefighters. In a Dec. 14 decision, Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern ruled the town had imposed the shifts illegally.

Town Council president Elizabeth Dolan said the council felt the town would achieve more savings if it retained the 24-hour-shift system.

Ray Furtado, president of the 60-member union, said the union planned to ask Stern to issue an order forcing the town to rescind the 24-hour system.