A contract agreement between the Dunkirk firefighters and the Common Council is definitely a step in the right direction.

Last week, council voted unanimously to approve the three-year deal for the firefighters, which included a 3 percent raise in the first year of the pact – 2011 – with no pay raises the next two years. In addition, the contract includes members of the union paying 10 percent in health insurance premiums in 2012 and a reduction in staffing from 26 to 24.

“These are not ordinary times,” said Michael Edwards, president of the Firefighters Local 616. “Both sides worked hard to come to an agreement. I think our membership stepped up to be part of the solution.”

This agreement is definitely “part of a solution” when compared to other recent municipal agreements made in area county, towns, villages and schools with other employee unions. There was a sacrifice on the part of the workers as well as the city.

As stated in this corner before, the median income of a county resident is about $34,000. In 2010, according to seethroughny.net, the median income of a city of Dunkirk employee was more than $50,000. When benefits, such as the pension and health care are included with the salary, the total is closer to $70,000.

Public unions still have an advantage in New York state when looking at the numbers. At least, in this deal, the playing field was leveled a bit.

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