Union officials say a tentative agreement on a new five-year Providence firefighters contract could be presented to City Council's Finance Committee this week.
The department would return to a four-shift work week under the agreement reached last month. The minimum number of firefighters required per shift would be lowered from 94 to 88.
A finance committee hearing, public hearing, union vetting and secret union vote would all have to happen.
City Council would vote twice to approve the deal.
Union and city officials tell The Providence Journal (http://bit.ly/2dFvoBl ) the agreement was expected to take effect on Oct. 29 but could be delayed.
A City Council spokeswoman says vetting can begin after Mayor Jorge Elorza's administration provides all the information necessary for them to determine if the contract saves money.
