The relationship between San Jose and its unions has been contentious at times. However, both the City and its Firefighters’ Union were able to move past their previous bad blood to strike a tentative agreement to help solve the city’s $110 million deficit.

The agreement calls for 10% total compensation cuts over the next two years, and would maintain the current level of staffing during that time.

Last year, the city and the union were unable to reach an agreement on compensation cuts, and as a result, 49 firefighters were laid off.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

San Jose officials Thursday announced a tentative deal in which city firefighters would agree to reduce their pay and benefits 10 percent for the next two years to avoid further layoffs in the thinly staffed department.

The deal requires ratification from the city’s 647 firefighters over the weekend and City Council approval Tuesday. But it makes firefighters the first among San Jose’s 11 employee unions to reach a deal on the 10 percent cuts Mayor Chuck Reed and the council have sought to help close a $105.4 million deficit in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

“Firefighters are making significant sacrifices every day on the streets, and they’re making sacrifices again at the bargaining table,” said Fire Capt. Jeff Welch, president of the San Jose Firefighters union. “We’re really happy. The city and firefighters came to the table and made a deal to save firefighters’ jobs and keep the public safe.”

Read the full article here.