Labor and Union Issues
An Orlando Fire Department EMT was fired after a months-long investigation into a 34-second video clip where made a comment about women’s voting rights
Plano Fire-Rescue becomes the first in the state to use a 24-hour-on, 72-hour-off shift schedule for its firefighters
Fort Wayne’s mayor says the union’s social posts about FD leadership fuel anger, pointing to threats from commenters — including a noose image — aimed at Chief Eric Lahey
City employees will continue to see a 10% pay cut and mandatory furloughs, with an overall 8% budget cut for the fire department and 18% for the EMS department
Tacoma Firefighters IAFF Local 31 criticized the plan in an open letter, saying it would significantly impact service levels
A majority of Rockport firefighters had threatened to quit due to conflicts over leadership and training
The firefighters allege that the emergency services director cut off their training for months due to a personal grievance
The International Association of Fire Fighters supported Biden throughout his campaign and stated “he will never forget that IAFF fire fighters had his back”
Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez announced that four firefighters would be cut under his proposed budget
A total of 2,226 union members voted, with 1,444 voting to uphold the endorsement and 782 voting to rescind it; the city’s Black firefighters’ organization sued IAFF Local 22 over the endorsement last week
The Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association says Fire Commissioner William Renaldo voted in the Town of Tonawanda while saying he lived in Buffalo
The East Chicago union has also accused the chief of “retaliation” against firefighters who criticized his handling of the outbreak
East Chicago Fire Chief Anthony Serna said the beds were removed to reduce the spread of COVID-19; the union has previously criticized the department’s handling of a recent outbreak
The task force was developed after a third-party review found problems with staffing levels, training, morale, harassment and more at Tuscon’s Public Safety Communications Department
Tim McConnell was praised by officials for his efforts to restore fire stations after Hurricane Katrina, but endured scorn related to long-standing labor grievances
Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073 has received multiple offers from across the country to replace the flag after their post was shared 10,000 times
University Heights’ firefighters’ union agreed to not seek raises while the city deals with pandemic-related financial issues
Ogdensburg Firefighter-EMT Brian L. Kirby was issued a criminal summons in connection with the alleged incident during a union protest against City Manager and acting Fire Chief Stephen P. Jellie
East Chicago firefighters alleged that the first department member to test positive had been told to keep working despite being exposed through a household member
The firefighters’ lawsuit stemmed from a 2016 ruling that overtime calculations should factor in health coverage and other benefits
Peoria Firefighters Local 50 agreed to drop an unfair labor practice suit in order to stop the city from closing Station 20
Five EMS providers at the Astoria station have tested positive; union officials warned that the department may not be prepared for a second wave
Firefighters said three trucks were out of service on Sunday due to the city’s new rules requiring all firefighters to take at least six unpaid days off by the end of the year
The Pflugerville Professional Firefighters Association said the new district is necessary due to call volumes nearly doubling over the past year
Spokane County Fire District 8 IAFF Local 3711 President Jay Wilkins, who wrote the response, said it wasn’t meant to be political and that he was surprised by the public’s reaction
Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union IAFF Local 22 members gathered outside union headquarters to voice their opposition at a meeting
Gary Fire Chief Sean O’Donnell accused firefighters of abusing sick time, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime to cover their missed shifts
The city of Mattoon plans to enter into an agreement with Mattoon Firefighters Local 691 to allow newly hired firefighters to EMTs instead of paramedics
A state Supreme Court justice ruled against the Buffalo fire and police unions, who argued that records involving unsubstantiated and pending allegations should not be released under new transparency laws
All 4,700 city employees will have their pay decreased by 10% and will be required to take one unpaid day off for every 14-day pay period
The firefighters’ organizations said they were not consulted before IAFF Local 22 announced the break with IAFF national leaders’ endorsement of Biden
Ogdensburg Professional Firefighters Local 1799 President Jason Bouchard said Mayor Jeffrey Skelly’s comments were an attempt to smear the fire department
The IAFF Local 22 president criticized national union heads for endorsing Biden last April “without ... the consideration of the rank and file IAFF membership”
