Contract negotiations between the Town of Norwood and the Norwood Firefighters Association reached a standstill in late May 1978, prompting both sides to agree that a state‑appointed mediator would be needed to move discussions forward.
Selectmen Chairman Martin Lydon and Union President Thomas J. P. Collins, speaking separately, confirmed that the talks had hit an impasse. While neither offered details — both said it would be inappropriate to discuss the sticking points publicly — they acknowledged that a tentative mediation session had already been scheduled for June 5.
The dispute followed a familiar pattern. The previous year’s contract, which granted firefighters a 5% wage increase and expanded sick‑leave provisions, also required mediation before an agreement could be reached. With that one‑year deal now expired, the two sides again found themselves unable to bridge the gap without outside assistance.
The involvement of a state mediator underscored the importance of the negotiations, which affected staffing, scheduling, and compensation for one of the town’s most essential public‑safety departments. As Norwood approached the summer of 1978, both town officials and firefighters hoped that mediation would break the deadlock and lead to a fair, workable agreement.
Source: The Patriot Ledger, May 27, 1978, via Newspapers.com
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