Pennsylvania Firefighters Ink Deal

Feb. 14, 2006
The three-year contract in Lancaster, Pa. includes a pay hike, but no additional personnel.

The city of Lancaster has agreed to a new three-year contract with its firefighter's union.

However, it does not call for additional firefighters, something the union sought in negotiations.

The city's 87 firefighters will get a 3 percent raise for the next three years and health care benefits will not change. The union president called the terms fair, but said it needs more firefighters on duty.

"It's disappointing, but we also have assurance from the mayor that he's looking into it. If at all possible, we're going to get some additional staffing," said Lt. John Thomas.

"I made a commitment to the firefighter's union that we will look closely at the budget and see what we can do in the way bringing staffing up to some extent," said Mayor Rick Gray.

The union wants an average of 17 firefighters per shift. Now it can go as low as 12 during the summer.

Copyright 2006 by WGAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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