Cranston reaches tentative deal with firefighters

CRANSTON, R.I.—The city of Cranston has reached a tentative deal with its firefighters.

Members of the International Association Fire Fighters - Local 1363 agreed Thursday to take smaller pay raises and pay more for their health insurance.

Union members also approved leaving some positions vacant.

In return, the city extended the union contract for a year and gave raises in 2010 and 2011.

Mayor Allan Fung said he’s grateful to get a deal done.

“They didn’t have to come back to the table, but it was a byproduct of months of tough negotiations between the city and the firefighters where we came to a mutual understanding of what the city was facing and having them come back to provide some savings to the taxpayers,“ he said.

Fung said the concessions will save the city more than $3 million.