BY DAVID HUNN, Posted: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 1:13 pm |    St. Louis aldermen peppered city staff and firefighter union representatives in committee today, before ultimately approving widespread cuts in city employee pay this coming year.

Alderman Quincy Troupe was particularly nettlesome for the firefighters during this morning's nearly two-hour-long public employees committee meeting.

Early in the meeting, staff described the negotiation stalemate between the firefighter's union and the city, mostly concerning days off, sick-leave buy-back, and night-time differential pay, all on the chopping block this coming year. Staff noted, however, that unions had generally worked hard to negotiate and take their share of cuts.

Troupe then replied, explaining his doubt that the firefighters were sharing in the city's tough times this year: "I don't see how they did anything to curb the excess of greed."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" yelled firefighter's local 73 President Chris Molitor, throwing down his notebook in the audience.

"Let's have a little order here," said Alderman Stephen Gregali, chair of the committee, as he hammered his gavel.

"How about some respect!" shouted Molitor.

Troupe later called the firefighters "primam donnas," prompting Molitor to jump out of his seat and shout again. "You're insulting me," he said this time.

Aldermen left the room, and, moments later, a city marshall came in.

None of it, however, proved to change aldermen's minds. They voted 8-0 to pass the pay bill to the full board, for final approval this week.