Richard Paris, president of Local 718 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, one of the city’s largest and most politically active municipal labor unions, said Tuesday that he would step down after nine years as president.
Paris, 60, said in an interview that he would voluntarily resign following the union’s recent approval of a labor contract with the city, his second as president following years of tenuous relationships between the union and city government. His resignation is effective Feb. 28.
Paris also said he wants to spend more time with his family following the death in October of his brother Edward, 64, a former Boston firefighter who succumbed to cancer.
Paris said he expects to remain with the department another five years until he is forced to retire at 65, with the hopes that he can see his son, who is serving in the military, join the department; A firefighter for 35 years, he hopes to pin his badge on his son while still active.
Paris said he notified the union’s executive board of his decision Wednesday. His successor will likely be someone from within the union leadership until an election can be held next year, he said.
His departure follows several controversies and growing unrest within the department. In a report last month, a city-commissioned investigation into discrimination and harassment within the department found pervasive “locker room talk” and an unwelcoming culture toward woman, and recommended several reforms.
Factions within the 1,500-member department took issue with the report and the recommendations, including a proposed fire cadet program.
The department has also suffered several embarrassing incidents including the arrest of firefighters for crimes including assault, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Paris denied that his resignation was related to any of the recent controversies, saying he wanted to step back following the membership’s approval of a new contract in November. More than 75 percent of firefighters approved the deal, he said.
“My goal was always to make the job better for our members — to make it safer and to make it a worthwhile career with a fair wage and benefits that carry on into retirement with a decent pension,” he said in a letter to members announcing his resignation.
Paris praised the work of the union and its bargaining committee for securing two contracts totaling 46 percent increases in wages over the last 10 years, and he noted the political power of the union when it supported Mayor Martin J. Walsh in his inaugural campaign for mayor in 2013.
“We showed that we were a force that would no longer be a doormat for City Hall,” he said.
Milton Valencia can be reached at milton.valencia@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @MiltonValencia.