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The fight between the fire union and the city council has been a very public one.  Many council members had been curious -- even though they ultimately rejected the deal negotiated between Local 385 and the mayor -- about the vote from the rank-and-file firefighters. 

We now know.

Union President Steve LeClair was reluctant to give the numbers during hearings saying that his executive board told him not to.  His marching orders were to give whether it passed or failed.

It passed -- by a sizeable margin.

In the latest issue of the union's newsletter, The Inferno, LeClair said 352 firefighters voted yes on the contract.  169 said no.  That is a 68% approval margin.

More than 80% of the members voted.

What they voted on however was essentially killed by the city council this month when 5 members decided to take over labor negotiating from the mayor.