Arbitrator hears firemen’s grievance

HUDSON- An arbitration hearing was held Monday on a grievance the firefighters union filed over the Board of Selectmen’s decision that firefighters’ T-shirts and polo shirts cannot make reference to the union.

The meeting, which included testimony, was closed to the public.

The selectmen unanimously approved the change in February.

The firefighters’ pullovers, polo shirts and T-shirts carry the International Association of Fire Fighters’ name and the local union number.

During discussions, some selectmen pointed out that other unions in town, such as those representing police and highway workers, do not have their union information on their uniforms.

The union charged that members have been allowed to have some sort of union reference on their uniforms for years, and that the union offered to pick up the cost of having the label on shirts.

The arbitration hearing was about three hours long. It is not known when the arbitrator will make a decision.