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After four years of bargaining, arbitration, and negotiations, the Boston City Council passed the firefighters contract yesterday with a 12-1 vote. Last week it did not look like the contract would be approved, when the firefighters made an offer to push off a 2.5% raise for one year. That move reopened bargaining, and a final deal was struck on Tuesday, ready for the vote on Wednesday. The final agreement is a five-year deal, and is expected to save $45 million. The new contract gives the firefighters over 17% in raises for the years 2006 to 2011, and another raise over 2012. The contract retains drug and alcohol testing, and includes a wellness program for new firefighters. The head of the union praised the deal, saying that both sides had made concessions to achieve the deal. The Mayor said that he was happy it was over so that he could move on to other things. A City Council member called the deal "progress."