SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) – The firefighters union on Friday voted down a pay and benefit proposal by the city that would allow 49 recently laid-off firefighters to be rehired.

KCBS’ Betsy Gebhart reports that more than 80 percent of the union members who cast ballots voted against the city’s latest proposal, an offer called for an 8.9 percent cut in total compensation. The union claims the package amounts to a 14 percent pay cut.

Click here to listen.

The firefighters union also rejected previous city offers, and put forward a proposal similar to one offered by the police union that called for a 5.25 percent wage reduction and increased health care contributions, said a spokesman for Local 230.

Mayor Chuck Reed had sought concessions around 10 percent from most of the other public employee unions to close a $118 million deficit. Following Friday’s vote, Reed noted that other unions had accepted those cuts.

When the city laid off 49 firefighters earlier this summer, four engines were lost. The limitations of the slimmed down department were exposed when three calls came in simultaneously on Thursday morning.

Both sides said they are willing to return to the bargaining table, although no new talks have been scheduled. The contract will go before a mediator if they cannot resolve their differences before November.