LEWISTON, ID — Lewiston Firefighters Local 1773 issued a statement Monday in support of a recent court ruling mandating the City of Lewiston to enter into mediation-arbitration over an ongoing labor dispute.
The ruling, issued by the District Court of the Second Judicial District, enforces a provision in the union’s collective labor agreement that outlines the mediation-arbitration process. According to the union, it had proposed mediation-arbitration as early as November 2024 as a cost-effective resolution, but the City chose to pursue a Declaratory Judgment lawsuit instead.
“This decision supports Lewiston’s firefighters and anyone who relies on the City to honor contracts,” the union stated in the release.
John Thompson, President of Local 1773, said the City bypassed the mediation option in favor of litigation, which prolonged the process and increased expenses. “The court has reaffirmed what we have said from the beginning—contracts matter,” said Thompson.
Lewiston Firefighters Local 1773 has been without a contract for 175 days but said its members continue to serve the community. The union is calling on city officials to proceed with the court-ordered mediation-arbitration process in an effort to reach a resolution.
The union said it remains committed to a solution that benefits both firefighters and the citizens of Lewiston.
