Montreal's firefighters say they would rather give up their jobs instead of accepting compromises on their pension plans.

Mayor Denis Coderre confirmed in a Friday afternoon press conference that 80 fire service employees have suddenly filed for their retirement in the wake of Bill 3, provincial legislation that urges unions and cities to renegotiate funding agreements for pension plans.

The legislation was tabled in the National Assembly this week and is nowhere near becoming law, but introducing it was enough to prompt civil servants to apply for retirement.

The employees were advised that they would be required to pay retroactive contributions to the pension plan unless they retired on the same day that the bill was tabled.

According to city officials, many of the firefighters simply left - 80 before midnight - and 29 others retired earlier this year, resulting in the temporary depletion of manpower at some fire stations.

Coderre confirmed that some of the departures were of the sudden variety.

"Some chose to retire immediately and then left," he said. But the mayor insisted that Montrealers were never in danger. "We were asked if there was danger to Montrealers and our answer is 'no.'"

Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau said that firefighters, police officers, and other civil servants should offer their opinions instead of quitting.

"The bill was tabled yesterday. They will have a parliamentary commission for hearings during the summer," said Moreau.

The city of Montreal's pension plan is running a $1.6 billion deficit, and Moreau said anyone who thinks that can continue is not being reasonable.

"They should come, tell us what they think, tell us what they want and let's say something quite clearly: we won't change the target that we have, to settle the situation and to pay the deficit that exists in the pension plans," said Moreau.

Under the proposed law cities and their unions will have up to 18 months to reach a deal to improve pension plan funding. If they fail there would be six months of arbitration.

Currently Montreal taxpayers pay 70 percent of pension costs for civil servants, with employees paying the remaining 30 percent.

Bill 3 would change that ratio to 50:50, with most civil servants paying a maximum of 18 percent of their income on their pension.

Firefighters and police officers would pay a maximum of 20 percent.

Yves Francoeur of the Montreal police brotherhood said he believes Montreal's pension plan does not need to be changed, and said his officers should not have to face pension-funding costs rising to $224/week.

Montreal currently employs approximately 2,400 firefighters, of whom about 450 are eligible for retirement.