Labor and Union Issues
Anderson firefighters collected food, clothing and other essential items to send to hurricane victims in North Carolina
The San Antonio union president urged firefighters and medics to “keep your heads on a swivel and watch your six” after the arrests of Venezuelan gang members
The Londonderry Fire Department chief told town officials he could not balance the department budget and keep safe staffing levels at the same time
Black mold discovered during repairs caused the Michigan station to be temporarily shut down
The former deputy fire chief may be retried after an appellate court said pieces of evidence at his original trial were “unsatisfactory”
Georgetown Fire Chief Richard Bader Jr. resigned after a letter signed by 17 firefighters alleged a hostile work environment and physical violence
Santa Cruz firefighters say their wages are “well below mean” and seek to negotiate better pay raises
A group of 24 Cleveland lieutenants claims that black candidates were unfairly favored when issuing promotions to captain
A city board rescinded layoff notices for the paramedics after the chief sought to replace them with firefighter-paramedics
The firefighters say the lack of certification puts them at a disadvantage compared to more recently hired firefighters
Union representatives expressed discontent as the $1.2 million truck remained out of service for months
Fire fatalities in New York City fell by 25% last year, but 2019 also saw the second-highest amount of medical emergencies in FDNY history
The union said vehicle blackouts affect response times, while the city’s fire chief said response times have remained within national standards
The plan would make a doctor available to help firefighters struggling with trauma and mental illness
The council reversed the mayor’s plan to move firefighters from 24-hour shifts to eight-hour rotating shifts last week
The town received mutual aid 511 times this year and firefighters say they rely on a neighboring department almost daily
The New York union says the 14 firefighters who were laid off were not determined by seniority and were divided into two lists based on Spanish-speaking ability
The city’s mayor still may veto the decision and seek to enforce the eight-hour shift schedule that union members say is detrimental
Fire official disputes Ind. city’s claims of cost savings in controversial firefighter shift changes
East Chicago’s mayor and fire chief said similar changes were successful in Washington D.C., but a D.C. fire official said this claim was inaccurate
Austin firefighters’ union representatives said harassment complaints were minimized or “swept under the rug”
Many departments need community support for financial or organizational requests – and this requires a different type of preplanning and action
The Andover Firefighters Union unanimously voted “no confidence” in Chief Michael Mansfield and published a letter of what they say are examples of poor management
LAFD spokesman Peter Sanders said the department relies on overtime as part of its “constant staffing” model
The jury awarded Pvt. Judi Imhoff $150,000 related to gender discrimination, but jurors denied claims of discrimination made by a retired captain
The 35-page agreement sets the daily staffing goal of no fewer than 14 firefighters assigned to duty each day
Judge Gallagher ruled that city officials must conduct “competitive examinations and make promotions within the fire department”
Since the county went from four 911 centers to one, costs have increased, staff have unionized and technology is blamed for dispatch delays
The image comes on the heels of an accused culture of gender and racial discrimination at the fire department under Chief Brian Byrd’s reign
President Gerard Fitzgerald and other union officials held a press conference to help make sure the city lives up to its promise to “Never Forget”
The union filed a complaint alleging that Chief Angelo Calvillo had committed a misdemeanor crime by violating provisions in the city’s charter
A recent government study of 15 agencies found they struggle with too few firefighters, not enough money and ambulance services that are stretched thin
The firefighters say Chief Angelo Calvillo violated the city’s charter, which bars civil-service employees from political activity, and should be fired
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks was targeted in a lawsuit that accused the city of paying him and union members for duties outside of work