City firefighters will be paid nearly $1 million in back pay connected to the five-year contract dispute with the city.
City Comptroller James E. Mills said Wednesday that the payout for the retro pay and health benefit deductions will be “just a couple of thousand dollars short of $1 million.”
The payouts — scheduled to go out on Aug. 28 — will bring the city current to the contract through July 1, 2016. Firefighters are receiving 1.5 percent salary increases for years 2014-15 and 2015-16, under results from a so-called “interest arbitration” ruling that came out in late June.
Daniel Daugherty, president of Watertown Professional Firefighters Association Local 191, said he thought the payout figure was going to be more like $700,000.
When told the actual amount, Mr. Daugherty said, “I’m a little surprised. I didn’t think it was going to be that much.”
Fire department members can either pick up their checks at the fire station or have them delivered by mail, he said.