HOBOKEN — Firefighters descended on the City Council meeting on Monday to demand action on a new contract, telling council members the city's administration has lied to the governing body about negotiations and saying they feel "disrespected" by city officials.

The fire officers union, which includes about 40 captains and battalion chiefs, has been working under an expired contract since December 2013. The city wants a mediator to step in to resolve the dispute, according to the union's president, Bernie Grilletti, who called the mediation request "a joke" when speaking to council members on Monday.

Grilletti and the union's state delegate, Joseph Grossi, told council members the city wants "exorbitant givebacks," cuts in longevity pay and vacation days and "very minimal" salary increases compared to raises given to other union workers in the city. They said the current administration met with them twice before asking for a mediator.

"We ultimately feel that the city doesn't care about us," Grossi said. "We're the backbone of this city."

The fire department's superiors aren't the only Hoboken employees working under an expired contract. The city's pact with its other fire union, which represents about 70 firefighters, ended in December 2017.

Hoboken spokesperson Santiago Melli-Huber said fire officers' salaries are "one of the main negotiating hurdles" The base salary for top officials ranged from $128,000 to $155,000 last year and the city wants to adjust that to $134,000 to $162,000, which is lower than the union is seeking, Melli-Huber said.

"The administration recognizes the hard work of the firefighter superior officers and is committed to negotiating a fair contract that both recognizes their loyalty and dedication to the city but is also fiscally prudent," he said. "The administration is optimistic that an acceptable agreement can be reached by the parties."

The city budgeted $75.2 million for personnel costs in 2018, with $21.6 million set aside for firefighters. Total city spending in 2018 will be roughly $118.7 million.

After the two union officials spoke on Monday, the council voted unanimously on a resolution urging the city to come to an agreement with the fire officers. The resolution says Mayor Ravi Bhalla has "not fulfilled his legal responsibility to negotiate a contract, leaving the hard-working members of the Hoboken Fire Department leadership without the job security they deserve."

Corporation Counsel Brian Aloia told council members he could not speak much about negotiations because discussions are confidential. Aloia blamed a "little bit of a delay" in negotiations on the union's attorney being on vacation for two weeks.

"It's been five years," Council President Ruben Ramos said in response.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Sept. 25.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.