Labor and Union Issues
After nine people died in a fire at an assisted living facility, Fall River officials and IAFF agreed to hire up to 20 more firefighters over the next two years
Out of the 10 companies with the Fall River Fire Department, only two are staffed at the national standard of four firefighters, IAFF President Edward Kelly said
Union leaders claim that department directives limited the deployment of Austin firefighters during the deadly Kerr County flooding
The city of Camden had decided earlier this year to eliminate 12 positions to make up for budget shortfalls
The union said parts of the plan, including the decision to “brown out” one of the city’s fire stations, are “unsafe”
The union said the elimination of one of the city’s apparatus will increase response times and should be postponed until after the crisis
The firefighters say they were wrongly demoted to captain when they should have been reassigned as battalion chiefs
Personnel will instead be asked to wear masks and monitor for symptoms in order to prevent staffing shortages
Santa Clara County has decided to expedite COVID-19 testing for emergency personnel in the hopes of avoiding staffing shortages
Officials said federal privacy laws mean first responders can’t be told if they came in contact with a patient who tested positive for the virus
Paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, deputies and dispatchers will receive a pay raise of up to 5% and bonuses of up to $4,000 as the county seeks to retain personnel
The bill would permit firefighters and police officers to retire after 20 years, but without health benefits
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Saturday that a Brooklyn firefighter tested positive; shifts for firefighters and EMS have been modified in response to the outbreak
New Bedford city leaders will decide whether to decommission the engine company in order to end the city’s blackout policy
A task force is drafting alternative qualifications for those who don’t meet the education requirements to become public safety officers
Denver’s fire chief resigned after an incident this year echoed last year’s ball featuring a sex toy with a “Latino caricature” on its box
Officials say a glitch in the city’s payroll system caused about 240 firefighters to be overpaid by as much as $5,000
The Iowa city’s eight remaining firefighters who aren’t cross-trained as public safety officers have been placed on administrative leave
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said negotiations between EMS unions and city officials are underway
The 18 firefighters had resigned at a meeting last week due to the town manager overturning the fire chief’s decision on a personnel issue
A union representative said response times would double and up to 15 people would lose their jobs if the station closes
The president of the union said the chief’s decision to reduce staffing for safety programs to save up to $1 million put firefighters at risk
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