Labor and Union Issues
Members of Local 2 issued the vote after going without a contract or raise since June 2021
N.J. officials reinstate fire chief after allegations of harassment, intimidation and discrimination
East Orange Fire Chief Andre Williams was suspended after prosecutors investigated allegations of harassment from two firefighter unions
Applicants in the Hialeah Fire Department seeking promotion to battalion chief or assistant chief of operations will retake the exam after allegations of cheating
A city fire engine and three specialty units were shut down due to an unusual staffing shortage caused by COVID-19 and wildfire response efforts
The Georgetown County firefighter union released a statement detailing all the issues they’ve been facing in hopes of drumming up community support
In a letter to Mayor Lauren Poe, Gainesville Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2157, said the city is “in complete disarray” over vaccine mandate
The Myrtle Beach Professional Firefighters pushed back at a council meeting addressing the city’s move to stop paying for first responders’ healthcare
Chief Bashoor weighs in on a court ruling upholding the requirement for first responders to serve an additional five years before being eligible for retirement benefits
The union says the starting salary for an EMT will be $39,385, still far less than their firefighter counterparts
In the past year, Polk County first responders have been asked to pick up 4,495 mandatory OT shifts, totaling 89,434 hours
Norwich Fire Fighters Local 892 filed a grievance challenging the city’s requirement that firefighters use personal accrued time off if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus on the job
Norwalk firefighters’ union says a new policy will cut responses to 12 of 16 general medical alarms, despite many firefighters also being medics
Unions representing first responders in Sacramento voice concerns over vaccine mandate
The Reedy Creek Firefighters Association president points to a lack of support for firefighters and paramedics who are exposed to or contract the virus
Newark Firefighters Union President Chuck West said employees should be given the option of being tested continuously for COVID-19 or getting the vaccine
Union attorney: Morgantown firefighters are owed more than the $1.7 million settlement offer proposed by the city
Dept. of Public Safety prepares to “hold people accountable” to meet COVID-19 vaccination deadline
Local 67, which represents Columbus firefighters, alleges that the city did not fairly negotiate the most-recent contract with the union
When asked about union pushback on the decision, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has a right to require that its workforce gets vaccinated or tested
Van Buren union leaders said they oppose the policy and estimate 20% of the township’s police and fire officials might quit as a result
The city of Pharr has reached a collective bargaining agreement with fire unions, making way for incremental pay increases and organizational modifications
The terms include a 4% increase for firefighter/EMT classifications, a 2% increase for paramedics and a 1% increase for EMTs
The Uniformed Firefighters Association sent a message to members saying it’s too soon celebrate a crisis that has not yet passed
After an unsatisfactory meeting, the Toledo fire union put up a message to the public on a billboard: “Your fire dept. is dangerously understaffed today”
The Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedic Association said the area is at risk due to responder staffing levels
A Newark firehouse was dedicated to David Lee Bolden, William Thomas Jr., and Shelton Harris Jr.
Newark’s fire and police unions raised concerns about training, equipment and compensation related to the new response plan
The Portsmouth union members are among the first government employees in Virginia to request collective bargaining since the ban was lifted May 1
A fire captain and two firefighters had been terminated after reporting sexual assault allegations against the chief
Union members said low pay, competition with other departments and longer fire seasons have hampered hiring efforts
City first responders have been eligible to get the vaccine since January
The former Buffalo firefighter-EMT says he was fired under an outdated collective bargaining agreement
The Durham union said it can take as long as 10 minutes for firefighters to be dispatched to a call
