The union representing Pittsburgh firefighters has endorsed Republican Joe Weinroth's bid for mayor.

International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1 President Joe King said the decision of the union's political committee was unanimous, and was made late Friday. "It's probably the first time, that I remember, that the fire union has backed a Republican candidate for mayor," said King.

The local supported Democrat Bob O'Connor in the May primary. But O'Connor refused to meet with them until after the Nov. 8 general election, King said.

"After is too late," King said.

Weinroth said the endorsement is the first he's gotten from a labor union.

"It brings an enormous amount of momentum," he said. He said he made no promises to the union but said that he would "save money in other areas" before cutting public safety spending.

O'Connor's spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The firefighters are notorious for voting as a bloc and are sometimes given credit for Mayor Tom Murphy's narrow 2001 Democratic primary victory over O'Connor.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.