SAINT JOHN, N.B. – Paul Stackhouse is wiping the hands of the city’s firefighter’s union clean of any negative fallout after a recent arbitration ruling.

The arbitration board awarded Saint John firefighters a 12 percent wage increase over the next four years.

The union president wants to remind everyone that city hall requested the arbitration, not the union. “To sit and blame the firefighters for what happening as a result of the arbitration is wrong. we were prepared and asking for a two year deal, not a four.”

The ruling didn’t sit well with Saint John councillor Donnie Snook believes if a ladder truck has to be taken off the road to cover wage increases it’s because of the firefighters, not city council.

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton is concerned about a possible bias with respect to the arbitration board, as one of its’ member belongs to the Fredericton Fire Department.