Austintown firefighter talks go to arbitration

AUSTINTOWN — Contract talks between the township and its firefighters are going to arbitration after three meetings.

Township administrator Mike Dockry and Dave Schertzer, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 3356, will not be specific about the contract issues. Each confirmed, though, that the impasse has arisen over wages and health-care benefits.

The first stage of arbitration, Dockry said, is fact-finding. He said that the State Employee Relations Board provides an arbitrator who will listen to each side’s proposal, then make a recommendation.

If one of the sides doesn’t like that recommendation, arbitration will move to the second stage, which is conciliation, Dockry said.

The conciliator will choose one proposal, with no compromise, Dockry said. He said the township and the union have been meeting since November.