City police, firefighters protest pension changes
Holding signs that said "City Hall Has Turned Their Backs on Police and Firefighters," about two dozen members of the Baltimore police and firefighters unions protested the city's new pension legislation, Baltimore Sun colleague Jessica Anderson writes.
The union members wore shirts saying, "We Protect You. Help Protect Us," and yelled as local city and business leaders entered a fundraising event for Councilman Bill Cole at Luckie's Tavern on Market Place downtown. The new pension bill drastically alters the police and firefighter pension plan.
"We're here to show our displeasure with City Council for cutting our pension system when we provided a viable alternative," said David Cox, secretary-treasurer of Firefighters Local 734.
But council members contend the changes prevent financial disaster for the city.
"The reality was the city is facing extremely challenging times. We needed to make the pension plan sustainable long-term," Cole said.
Read more on the police and fire union pension protest.
