Firefighters strike averted in Corner Brook

Negotiators for unionized firefighters in Corner Brook have reached a tentative deal with their employer, avoiding a strike or other action that might have jeopardized the public service.

"It was a tough day," said Peter Daniels, who speaks for local 1222 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, describing a round of bargaining on Tuesday that saw a tentative deal hammered out.

"Even though this thing is not perfect and it's not everything we wanted, we thought it was decent enough to show our membership," Daniels told CBC News Wednesday.

Members are expected to be briefed on Wednesday night. A media blackout is in effect, meaning neither the union nor the city is commenting on the details of the agreement. Daniels said both sides compromised at the bargaining table.

The union's members voted last week on a strike mandate, which the force is entitled to do because it is one of the few services in Canada to be exempt from such a prohibition.

"We're not an essential service here in Corner Brook and we have the right to strike, but we don't want to, and the city, I don't think, wants us to," Daniels said.

"The next move now [would have been] job action, which nobody wants to do."

Daniels said members may vote on the offer as early as Thursday.