The local firefighters' union and city officials are publicizing a new one-year labor agreement for firefighters.

The deal between the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 and the city would consist of a 5 percent salary cut for firefighters during the 2009/2010 fiscal year. The other key component of the deal is that city officials have promised not to lay off firefighters throughout the one-year period.

Local 522 and city officials have been sparring over a new contract for firefighters. City officials planned to lay off dozens of firefighters as part of city budget cuts. This tentative contract for the firefighters’ union differs from earlier versions which included raises and longer periods of time.

Five days ago, Local 522 said it would “explore legal options” in its dispute with city managers. But the mood between the two parties appears to have changed. Swanson said Tuesday that the union wouldn’t necessarily need to examine legal options if the new deal is passed.

In the last tentative deal between the union and City Council, firefighters would have been paid salary increases over a five-year period. The pay increases added up to a total of 11 percent by 2014. The City Council backed out of the deal.

Firefighters nixed a separate deal with the city earlier this month. In that proposal, firefighters would have given up their 5 percent cost-of-living increase scheduled for July. They would also have received a 1 percent pay increase in 2010 and a 2 percent increase in 2011.

Local 522 spokeswoman Robin Swanson said the new one-year contract deal addresses concerns raised by city officials, who did not want to extend layoff protections for longer than one year.

The one-year contract will “get us out of the woods,” Swanson said.

Council members Steve Cohn and Lauren Hammond are appearing at a press conference tonight with Local 522, which means that at least two council members support the deal.

Council members will vote on the tentative agreement in a closed session at tonight’s City Council meeting. Firefighters may vote on the proposal over a two-day period this week.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.