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San Jose Councilman Calls For Bigger Cuts For Firefighters

SAN JOSE (CBS) – The San Jose City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether or not to approve a tentative deal the city has reached with firefighters, which includes a 10 percent salary cut.

But San Jose Councilman Sam Liccardo has asked the council to delay that vote, saying the cuts are not enough.

"I've encouraged my colleagues to defer accepting the 10 percent reduction that has been generously offered by the firefighters until we're able to negotiate further on retirement cuts," he said.

KCBS' Ron Naso Reports:

Although San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said he understands the need for pension reform, he said he would not support Liccardo's proposal to table the vote on the firefighter deal.

"Pensions are going to continue to go up until they reach $400 million in about four years," Reed said. "That's a huge percentage of our general fund budget That's a huge percentage of cost and we just have to get control over them."

The tentative deal with the San Jose Fire Fighters union also included some operational changes and reduced health insurance, while the two sides continued talks on pension reform.

It also offered the city some hope of coming to similar agreements with San Jose's other employee unions, but many of those talks have now been put on hold.

Reed said he is concerned that talks with police may end up in arbitration.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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