Firefighters rally to keep their jobs

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Dozens of firefighters and their supporters rallied outside City Hall before a meeting by the city council to vote on a new union contract.

News 8 learned shortly after 10 p.m. that all 25 firefighters involved will be laid-off effective at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17th.

The firefighters entered the meeting wearing yellow t-shirts with with numbers on them, representing the 25 firefighters facing lay-offs.

One by one, speakers pleaded for the city council to ratify the new deal.

"One of you can make it right tonight for us. It will not be a safe place to have 25 less firemen," said Mike Leonard of the New London Fire Department. "It will a safe place if we pass this tonight. We'll have younger firemen. We won't lose them all. If we don't pass this, it will forever damage the city of New London fire department.