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In a move that may improve the odds of their arbitration award being approved by the City Council, Boston firefighters offered to delay the 2.5% raise for drug and alcohol testing for a year, which would about $4.5 million dollars. The firefighters' president said that they were aware of the layoffs of others, but reminded the Council that the firefighters have not had a raise for five years. The offer was written with help from Council members who supported the firefighters. The first counteroffer made by the Mayor would have cut the deferral of the raise to six months, and extended the contract through 2011, stopping the union from asking for another raise this year when they begin negotiations for a new contract. Several Council members spoke out against the Mayor's offer, saying that there was little give in the offer. Other union leaders reminded Council members of their promise to vote for the award when they received union support in their campaigns. The City Council has scheduled a vote on the award for Wednesday.