Members of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees union voted 833 to 603 in favor of the contract. That means daily services such as curbside trash pick-up, street sweeping and repairs, 911 calls and water services will continue uninterrupted.

The union represents about 40 percent of the city's workforce. It would have taken a vote from three-fifths of the union's membership to reject the proposal. About 1,000 members did not cast votes.

"The alternative was to go out on strike, and I don't think folks are real interested in going on strike," said Bob Turner, regional director for AFSCME Ohio Council 8. "It's hard times right now economically."

The fact-finder's report released Tuesday offered a settlement to a simmering contract dispute between the city and the union. Union members had been working without a contract proposal since Aug. 4.

In addition to a wage increase, the fact-finder also concluded city workers should pay a larger co-pay and deductible for health insurance. Cincinnati City Council voted 6-3 Wednesday to accept the contract.

Mayor Charlie Luken said he doubted all along that workers would choose a strike. He said the city would have gone back to the bargaining table if the contract had been rejected, but the city still would have had no more money to offer.

Luken said the contract proposal was fair in light of the city's financial condition. Cincinnati faces a $7.8 million general fund deficit for the budget year ending in December and an $11.5 million deficit next year.

"We have something that we could live with that's fair to people," Luken said. "A strike wouldn't benefit anybody."

Turner said despite all the bargaining table rhetoric, Cincinnati workers still have good wages and a good contract. He said it was a matter of perspective considering that cities such as Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo were experiencing wage freezes and layoffs.

Turner said he felt some regret about rejecting the city's first offer that would have give workers raises of 3 percent, 2 percent and 3 percent over the next three years.

That offer also would have awarded a one-time bonus equal to 1 percent of a worker's annual salary.

Turner said the final tally was relatively close for a ratification vote. He said he doubts that the result would have been different if the entire membership had voted.

"I think the people who didn't vote showed with their absence that they weren't strongly opposed to this contract," Turner said.

Email kaldridge@enquirer.com