SACRAMENTO (AP) - Sacramento firefighters have agreed to freeze
their salaries for two and a half years, averting layoffs for at least a year.

The deal on salary concessions was approved by the fire union Friday. Up to 68 firefighters were facing layoffs starting July 4 if it had been shot down.

Three previous proposals on salary freezes were rejected by either the union or the city council. The agreement approved Friday by the fire union has already been passed by city councilmembers.

Under the deal, firefighters will delay a 5 percent raise that was scheduled to go into effect July 14 until January 2012.

The move is expected to save the city nearly $11 million.