A City Council committee advanced a five-year contract on Tuesday that will raise wages for Chicago Fire Department employees despite questions about how the deal impacts city finances and the union’s pension plan.
The Workforce and Audit Committee unanimously approved by voice vote a contract for an estimated 4,645 workers represented by Chicago Fire Fighters Union, Local No. 2. Union members have already ratified the deal, which includes an 11 percent worker pay raise over five-years with the salary bump retroactively beginning in 2012.