BOSTON -- Boston will begin so-called brownouts at city fire stations on Wednesday.

NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported that fire houses will rotate closing based on manpower. The city is using the new policy to cut down on overtime costs when a firefighter calls in sick.

Team 5 investigates first reported on Sunday that firefighters were unhappy with the plan and now the union has offered a counterplan.

Firefighters in Local 718 are asking the city to allow firefighters to volunteer and fill in for each other when there's a sick call instead of browning out or closing a fire house.

Boston's fire commissioner told Team 5 Investigates that the overtime budget for firefighters is $2 million over budget for the fiscal year.

To save money, a brownout policy will start Wednesday -- the beginning of fiscal year 2010.

Under the new policy, if two firefighters are sick, the firefighters that show up will drive to another firehouse and their original firehouse would be browned out or closed.

The Union said the new brown out policy is retaliation for the ongoing contract dispute and dangerous to public safety.

"We are not going to allow our brothers and sisters to be vilified just because they are sick," Union President Ed Kelly said.