The firefighters are trying to extend an olive branch to the city administration with the hope that mayor Greg Goodnight might restore some of their laid-off members.

According to Firefighters Local 396 president Rick Daily, the union met in a special session last Thursday night and decided to give back the raises they won in contract arbitration at the end of 2008. The sacrifice would be effective with the first paycheck in July and would include the remainder of this year and all of 2010.

"We're going to help out and do our part," said Daily. "We didn't ask to go to arbitration. We didn't file the impasse. We feel like it was a raise we rightfully won, but we also know there is a financial situation - a crisis - everywhere. Hopefully we can get some people back to protect the city."

Daily explained that there is a motive behind the unprompted concession. The recent lay-off of 12 firefighters spurred the union to attempt a number of methods to convince the mayor to rescind the job cuts, from marches and protests to the proposal for a committee of city leaders to meet and attempt to resolve the issue. The offering of their raises is a gesture the firefighters hope prompts a favorable response.

"I guess you can call it a goodwill gesture, but we need our men and women back on the job," said Daily. "This is a public safety issue. We have felt that way from the start. We're giving back this raise, and hopefully the mayor will bring some people back to work and help us to help the community."