MA firefighters defy station closings

BOSTON (AP) - A move by Boston firefighters to "voluntarily" staff firehouses that had been temporarily closed by the city has been dismissed by officials as an illegal public relations stunt.

The sparring over the new "brownout" policy was the latest salvo in a long-standing contract dispute between the firefighters union and Mayor Thomas Menino.

In a move to reduce overtime costs, the city recently announced a plan to close up to four fire companies on days when a large number of firefighters call in sick. Three companies were closed Wednesday after 33 firefighters missed their shifts.

The union, claiming the policy compromises public safety, said off-duty firefighters showed up -- without pay -- to cover the browned-out stations.

The city said the union was violating federal labor law.