The Garden Grove City Council Tuesday approved a new two-year contract for the city’s firefighters’ union that boosts cafeteria and employee education benefits.

The 2015-2017 contract includes no wage or salary increases or changes in pension benefits, according to Human Resources Director Laura Stover. The previous contract expired June 30, 2015.

The city’s total increase in cost for cafeteria benefits over the two-year contract is about $276,000.

Tuition benefits will also be increased by $400 per year for a maximum allowed tuition reimbursement of $2,800 per year, according to Stover. Six firefighters currently participate in that program.

Although the union and city are still making final language revisions to the contract, the City Council’s vote Tuesday evening approves the contents and financial commitments of the deal, according to a staff report. The final contract is still subject to city manager approval.

Contact Thy Vo at tvo@voiceofoc.org or follow her on Twitter @thyanhvo.

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