BOSTON -- A group of Boston firefighters and police officers are racing to retire before a new pension reform law curbs benefit loopholes in Massachusetts.

The Boston Firefighters Union came out swinging, defending itself against allegations of pension abuse.

"There's certainly a perception out there that people are getting what they're not entitled to, and I can tell you that every firefighter in the city of Boston earns his pension," said Ed Kelly, of the Boston Firefighters Union.

The Boston Retirement Board has received 33 applications for retirement from firefighters who have pending disability claims and seven from police officers.

"We don't normally have that in a given day," said Kathleen Kiely-Becchetti, of the Boston Retirement Board.

The unions filed the applications ahead of Wednesday's enactment of a pension reform bill, which ends the practice of claiming a career-ending injury while filing in for a higher paid superior -- even if the fill in was only for one day.

"They're abusing taxpayers' dollars. That's what I'm concerned about," Boston Mayor Tom Menino said.

The mayor wants to stop the pension filings and has asked the legal department to review them.

In the meantime, the fire union has been lobbying for a technical amendment, essentially reversing much of the pension reform.

"What we want to do is protect all employees to ensure they are treated fairly," Kelly said.

"I hope it stays. In the long run, I think it's better for the department. It's the right thing to do and will bring back the respect of the people," Boston Fire Department Commissioner Roderick Fraser said.