By Alisha A. Pina
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Nearly three-quarters of the city's firefighters and emergency medical technicians on Wednesday agreed for the second time to significant pension reductions.
The concessions -- including a 10-year suspension of the cost-of-living increases to their pensions -- were first approved in early November. The police officers approved a similar deal in December, but negotiated additional protections that the firefighters also wanted.
Fire union president Paul Doughty said Wednesday's vote showed 74 percent of the firefighters were for the new wording, and 26 percent were against. He said he now looks forward to signing the deal with the mayor and getting the approval of the City Council.