Labor and Union Issues
The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Bureau of Fire are at odds over firefighters taking over patient transports and rescues
The consulting firm hired to study fire services in Butte and Silver Bow County claimed it “had never worked in a community where it was so controversial”
The Troy firefighter and union president said he refused to participate in training at the academy, citing the death of a firefighter in 2021
The resignation of the firefighters has not been accepted and they are set to meet with town officials on Monday
Under the proposed act, federal grant funding for mental wellness support would no longer carry a funding match requirement
Council members raised concerns over hiring practices after noting the low proportion of minority first responders in the minority-majority city
The manager overturned the fire chief’s decision on a personnel issue, leading 18 firefighters to quit after a contentious meeting
The city’s fire union said the facility has had a mold problem for years, causing serious health side effects for trainees
The most recent controversy involved jokes about sex toys at a union-sponsored ball last weekend
Under current law, volunteers may only be covered if they are injured during an emergency response and not during other on-duty activities
Tampa Council Chairman Luis Viera championed the addition of the second ambulance after hearing of the station’s overwhelming call volume
The change for cadets went into effect this month as firefighters remain in an ongoing contract dispute with the city
The Cedar Falls City Council approved a controversial fire department plan to transition to one that includes cross-trained public safety officers
A Santa Fe firetruck appeared in the background of a news conference supporting legislation related to worker’s compensation for PTSD
The assistant chief was demoted to captain after the firefighters’ union complained about an alleged lack of response to a firefighter’s “mayday” call
One union leader said 75% of the city’s EMS workforce has less than five years of experience due to high turnover
The order comes shortly after the department head announced the cancellation of firefighters’ vacations until further notice
The paramedic currently being considered for promotion to lieutenant is currently under investigation for one of at least five complaints
Chief Randall Slaughter told the city’s public safety committee that Capt. Daniel Dwyer’s actions could have put other firefighters in danger
The superintendent said the cancellation was necessary to protect the city in the wake of a voluntary overtime boycott
The arbitrator said the firefighter gave varying accounts of the incident and failed to contain her emotions during the call
The Providence ladder truck lost two of its tires while returning from an emergency
The city had cut the department’s minimum staffing per shift to six during a fiscal crisis in 2014
The lengthy, ongoing legal battle stems from a dropped aggravated assault charge in 2008
The firefighters called for an end to oral exams after the “debacle” that left 120 unable to take their test
The fire chief’s wife pleaded with city council to allow her husband to keep his position while living in another town
The union posted their concerns on social media and published an open letter suggesting possible solutions
The arbitrator said the lieutenant’s firing was unfair because three other medics involved in the incident were only suspended
A judge said the department must allow the four firefighters to return to full duty with short facial hair
The uncle of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo, who was killed in 2017, questioned city council over the disparities in pay for EMS versus fire personnel
The city is asking a judge to reverse the decision of an arbitrator that reinstated the firefighter, who is facing felony charges
The bill would provide preventative training and improve access to workers’ compensation for PTSD and other mental health conditions
The new policy outlines circumstances that require drug and alcohol testing for volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders