City government, firefighters unions to go to arbitration

The city of Havre and the union representing firefighters will go to arbitration on the terms of its labor contract.

Mayor Tim Solomon said the two sides are at loggerheads after going through mediation and fact finding.

The contract expired in July 2014, he said, and efforts to reach an agreement haven’t been fruitful.

He said the talks haven’t been acrimonious, just not fruitful.

“It really comes down to money,” he said.

The union contends that the city has more money it can pay firefighters with, while the city says it doesn’t, he said.

Under state law, state officials provide a list of pot...