I hope that they can pay for these contracts when the State dries up the money....

MADISON (WMSN) -- Madison city officials didn't want to wait for the governor's budget bill to pass.

After an emergency city council meeting - leaders unanimously voted to extend city union contracts through 2012.

We know all to well those decisions can take hours - or even days, but tonight it only took minutes.

City Common Council members seemed relieved after the contracts in fact were extended.

Along with an ovation from the crowd.

The dozen contracts include firefighters, police officers and municipal employees.

Here's what they received.


They will not have to pay co-pays each month for their health care benefits.


Each of the 12 contracts also include salary increases.

The Common Council also voted to go on the record that they support Wisconsin workers rights to organize and collectively bargain.

Both incumbent Mayor Ciezlewicz and former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin - running in the April elections agree with the decisions.

"We had every council member vote for every resolution that we passed, there were 18 council members and everyone voted," said incumbent City of Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

"There's no question that good workers and good unions are in the best interest of public service," said former City of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.

Before the agenda - council members and representatives of 12 labor unions marched from the city council building to the overture center.

The council members said they wanted to show their solidarity with this movement.

Something they say they've demonstrated tonight.

http://www.fox47.com/newsroom/top_stori ... 1431.shtml