The second of Baltimore's two fire unions overwhelmingly approved last night a two-year contract that will give members a 7 percent pay raise this year - equal to what city police have received, which has been a yearlong goal of the city's 1,600 firefighters.
The contract, however, does not maintain pay parity in the second year, which begins July 1. Police will receive 8 percent next year, while firefighters and fire officers will receive raises ranging from 3.5 percent to 6 percent.
Yesterday's 825-91 vote by Baltimore Firefighters Local 734 puts to rest a yearlong battle between firefighters and Mayor Martin O'Malley's administration, which had tried to prevent firefighters from keeping pay parity with police officers.
On Monday night, Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964 voted 331-21 in favor of the contract.
The contract gives firefighters a 4 percent raise on top of the 3 percent raise they had received in July.