SAINT JOHN, N.B. – While a 12% wage increase may be a early Christmas present for Saint John firefighters, one common councillor feels the city has been handed an expensive lump of coal.

This week, an arbitration board awarded the firefighter’s union a pay increase…to be spread out over the next four years which will see a first class firefighter’s wage close to $80,000.

Donnie Snook believes the union is out of touch with the city’s financial state.

“The firefighters are on record as saying they believe the city is in good financial shape. That just reflects complete ignorance to the city’s reality.”

Mayor Mel Norton says he is not sure what kind of impact the new contract will have on the city’s 2013 budget.