Firefighters in Medford are turning up the heat on city officials with a lawsuit filed by their union, alleging that more than 100 members have yet to receive owed back pay, a dispute that has been simmering since as far back as 2021. The Medford Firefighters IAFF Local 1032, represented by Barrault and Associates LLC, is calling out Mayor Breanna Longo-Koehn and the City of Medford for failing to fulfill their financial obligations.
In a legal move to try and secure the compensation, the union's complaint was lodged in Middlesex Superior Court earlier this afternoon, as reported by the firefighters' official X account. The union's president, Walter Edward Buckley, did not mince words when expressing his dissatisfaction with how the city has handled the matter. Buckley emphasized the resulting low morale among the ranks due to the city's failure to properly to pay their dues. "The members of Local 1032 deserve to be respected, and that starts with paying them fairly," Buckley said.
Earlier this afternoon, our attorneys from Barrault and Associates LLC on behalf of Medford Firefighters IAFF Local 1032 President Walter Edward Buckley, filed a complaint in Middlesex Superior Court seeking relief against Mayor Breanna Longo-Koehn and the City of Medford for… pic.twitter.com/vtmJSXwC7J
— Medford Firefighters Local 1032 (@MedfordMAFire) March 6, 2024
The lawsuit comes at a time when tensions between public servants and government entities are particularly high across the nation, with issues of fair compensation and treatment at the forefront of numerous debates. Local 1032's legal action is only the latest chapter in this ongoing narrative of workers seeking recognition and remuneration for their service.
According to President Buckley, the withheld wages have not only affected the pockets of Medford's firefighters but also the very spirit of the department. He strongly suggests that the Mayor and the City have been consciously dragging their feet on the issue, which, in turn, has contributed greatly to the flagging morale. "When the Mayor plays dumb and wonders why morale is at an all-time low in this department, this should serve as a clear example," Buckley said. "Our firefighters deserve to be treated with dignity and our hope is this legal action will force the City to take steps towards recognizing the hard work and service that our members provide daily to the residents of Medford," he continued, as per the statement provided.
The City of Medford has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit or the claims made by Local 1032 regarding the unpaid wages. As the legal battle heats up, it's clear that the firefighters are prepared to tackle the blaze of injustice they believe has been sparked by the city's negligence.
