Labor and Union Issues
A Muslim civil rights group alleges the Baltimore Fire Department denied religious accommodation, selectively enforced its grooming policy and suspended him without offering a respirator fit test
The appeals court agreed Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue faced undue hardship if it excused the unvaccinated crew members, citing safety, staffing and operational risks during the pandemic
Lab finds high PFAS in Quincy’s “PFAS-free” turnout as IAFF urges independent checks
The study of the Augusta Fire Department made multiple recommendations but stopped short of agreeing with calls for the fire chief to resign
Fairfax County Firefighter Andrew Cruikshank was charged and is on administrative leave after a police body-worn camera captured an altercation with the patient
Atlantic City FFs sue city, saying department’s COVID-19 policy shows ‘blatant disregard’ for health
The complaint alleges the policy of directing FFs to return to work after being exposed, but testing negative themselves, risks spreading the virus
The billing of fees issued to insurance companies for medical care rendered by Vallejo firefighters was suspended until further notice after patients mistook fee notices for bills
Bangor Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 772 officials say Chief Thomas Higgins refused to negotiate extending the agreement that allowed them to wear the shirts on some Fridays
A civil service commission determined the firefighter-EMT, who accused the department of race discrimination, violated sick leave policy but ordered he be reinstated, suspended and demoted
IAFF President Harold Schaitberger was accused of early withdrawal of more than $1 million in pension payments
Two jurisdictions that have already begun antibody testing have reported a positive rate of 1.9%
Ogdensburg Firefighters IAFF Local 1799 claimed the instruction was an attempt to prevent public statements that conflicted with the city manager’s viewpoints
First responders will be presumed to have contracted COVID-19 on-duty if there is an outbreak at their workplace
An internal auditor found that overtime expenses doubled over the last five years and in some cases doubled employees’ salaries
The borough of Larksville plans to transition to a department relying only on part-time, volunteer and subcontractor firefighters
Union officials said some firefighters saw nearly $2,000 deductions from their paychecks
The council voted 6-5 to make the cuts in order to fill the city’s COVID-19 budget hole, despite strong opposition from the city’s firefighters’ union
The former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee visited Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local No. 1 during a campaign stop
The IAFF has organized a “Go-Team” to provide relief to members affected by the Category 4 hurricane
Houston’s firefighters’ union said in a statement that the incident is a sign of neglect by city officials
Sanford’s fire union president said a 72-hour wait for first responders’ test results is “unacceptable”
FDNY EMS Local 257 President Oren Barzilay said the city’s plan to eliminate hundreds of EMS positions will put lives at risk
In addition to stating that Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murphy mishandled the flag controversy, firefighters said he was “negligent in his duty to protect the health and welfare” of firefighters
New Bedford fire union officials say the engine set to be cut responds to the most densely populated area of the city
Union officials said the measure, which would set aside $40 million for inclusive economic development and youth, would put EMS and fire services at risk
The city of Watertown seeks to change the requirement that 15 firefighters must be on duty at all times
Somerville’s mayor said the flags were part of “an unauthorized action"; the removal comes after a similar controversy in Hingham, Mass.
The Strongsville Fire Fighters Association said the hiring of part-time firefighters would undermine professionalism at the department
Demonstrators in Newton delivered the petition to the mayor’s office, asking that the Firefighter Remembrance Flag be put back up
The move follows a weeklong conflict between the town of Hingham and the fire department over the display of the flags
A citizen complaint about the flags prompted Hingham’s police and fire chiefs to ask for the flags’ removal
Reedy Creek Fire Department employees are fighting the department’s policy forcing them to use their personal sick leave if they are infected
Two fire apparatus displaying the flag drove by the rally supporting police officers on Tuesday
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