The Daily News
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Fire Department never implemented a staffing plan ordered by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa six weeks ago to boost the department’s front-line firefighting ranks and is now threatening to again reduce service citywide in an effort to influence an upcoming union vote.
Fire Chief Millage Peaks is planning to return the department to a reduced “brownout” fire coverage schedule beginning Nov. 21 — unless the firefighters union approves a new city contract later this month.
Under the brownout plan, 15 fire companies at a time throughout the city would be shut down to save staffing costs.
The department had a similar program in place earlier this year but was supposed to end it after Villaraigosa ordered Peaks, over his objections, on Sept. 30 to return 51 staff assistants to firefighting duty,
The staff assistants serve as drivers of deputy chiefs and coordinate firefighter activity at major scenes.
Peaks delayed the reassignments, however, saying more training was needed for captains to fill in at fire scenes, as he developed an alternative operations plan that kept the staff assistants.
Villaraigosa spokesman Matt Szabo said the mayor told Peaks he could retain the staff assistants in their jobs - as long as there is not a reduction in front-line staffing and the expected savings are found in the department budget.
“We don’t intend to micromanage the Fire Department as long as it can operate within its budget without jeopardizing public or firefighter safety,” Szabo said.
“We are walking a tightrope between balancing the budget and maintaining critical public safety services. We have to do both. That’s why the (UFLAC) contract is so important. We have asked our sworn personnel to contribute to the solution. And we are seeking to do it with the proposed contract.”
UFLAC members are scheduled to vote on their leadership on Nov. 22 and decide on a proposed contract that gives them no raises or added benefits on Nov. 29-30.
If the current leadership is re-elected and the contract approved, the modified coverage plan will be withdrawn.
Szabo said the mayor was not trying to interfere in the UFLAC elections.
Union’s stance
“The mayor does not get involved with union elections,” Szabo said. “The mayor does support the proposed contract because it provides the savings the city needs without reducing fire service.”
UFLAC President Pat McOsker said the department did fully staff all stations for the past two months, but is now faced with having the reduced staffing take effect.
“We thought the mayor’s decision on the staff assistants was the right one,” McOsker said. “We understand that reopening 15 companies needs to be paid for and we thought using the staff assistants was the best choice.”
UFLAC, on its website, told members this week that the issue of staffing and the contract are linked to its internal election.
“UFLAC has been informed that the city will await the outcome of the election of UFLAC officers prior to re-instituting the (modified coverage plan),” the website said.
“If the current leadership is returned to office, the city will hold off on the MCP until after the outcome of the ... ratification meetings.
Leadership could be key
“Since both the mayor and city administrative officer were already aware that our tentative agreement has been campaigned against by certain candidates for UFLAC office ... they ended up acknowledging that it is in the city’s best interest to wait before reintroducing the MCP,” the website said.
If the current leadership is ousted, it could mean the city has to return to the bargaining table with a new group of UFLAC leaders - who oppose the proposed contract.
Steve Tufts, who served as UFLAC president before McOsker and is running for first vice president, said his group believes more needs to be done to provide greater security for the firefighters.
“We want to end some of the uncertainties that are in the contract,” Tufts said.
City Council President Eric Garcetti said if the department keeps operating at its current rate, it will face a $10 million budget shortfall this year.
“It will be interesting to see how the department covers it,” Garcetti said.
John Miller, president of the Chief Officers Association of the LAFD, said his members were concerned about the coordination of resources at fires.
“Our responsibility is the safety of our firefighters and the public,” Miller said. “I think that we found elimination of the staff assistants proved to be less effective and less efficient.”
The Chief Officers Association had sided with Peaks in opposing the elimination of the staff assistants.
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