December 31st, 2013 by WCBC Radio

Although a showdown in the courts between the city and firefighters Local 1715 remains a real possibility- Cumberland Mayor Brian Grim says the city remains open to renewing contract talks prior to next July. There are three unions that represent the majority of the city’s rank and file employees: The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1715. The city, in an effort to save money, asked the unions to support a switch in the employees’ health care provider from Blue Cross Blue Shield to CIGNA. City officials project a savings of about $400,000 annually by making the switch. The UFCW and AFSCME agreed, but the firefighters union refuses. That is where the dispute began this past summer.  Although the union leadership has been quoted on several occasions as saying the city refuses to negotiate- Mayor Grim says that is not the case…