The status of those firefighters is in direct correlation with whether the 162 remaining firefighters would receive a pay increase or would defer it for a year.
With the union voting in favor of not changing the fate of the 8, the other members of the Wilmington fire crews will now receive a 2.25% pay increase beginning in the fiscal year on July 1.
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker said he planned on asking City Council to amend the budget plan in order to save the careers of those firefighters, but now that this vote has passed, he says it has brought any chance of changes to a close.
According to the Mayor's office, other City employees, both union and non union, have deferred pay raises in order to save jobs and help the budget.
Those firefighters who will be laid off have been given their notice.
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