Cape, fire union agree on contract

Cape Coral and the fire union reached a contract agreement Friday after more than a year of debate. It came after a 9-hour meeting.

Officials finalized a tentative agreement in which union members will take a 3 percent reduction in pay and add 2 percent more of earnings to their pensions. Changes apply to the battalion chief as well as firefighters, engineers and lieutenants, said union President Mark Muerth.

The city was proposing a 6-percent pay cut.

Officials also agreed to continue funding health insurance for firefighters.

The agreement lasts until Sept. 30.