Unions withdraw Bloomberg support after pension reform proposal

The city's police and fire unions withdrew their support for Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday amid his proposal to reform the pension system for public workers.

Heads of both unions are taking issue with the mayor's call to end the $12,000 annual payments given to retired police officers and firefighters in addition to their pensions.

Bloomberg said yesterday the money could be better spent and called them "Christmas bonuses," which outraged union members.