City, Firefighters Close on Approval of New Contract

Los Angeles city firefighters will likely get raises totaling 15% over four years--18% for firefighters who are also trained as paramedics--under a new contract that both sides are near agreement on, officials said Tuesday.

Meeting behind closed doors, the Los Angeles City Council gave its negotiators authority to offer the firefighters’ union a series of salary increases parallel to those recently approved for police officers. Union and city negotiators will meet today to hammer out the details.