Labor and Union Issues
The Austin Firefighters Association launched a no-confidence vote over claims Chief Joel Baker delayed flood aid to Kerr County, allegations he denies as city leaders back him
Fire chief responds to union’s allegation of preventing FFs from responding to deadly Texas flooding
Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker defended his decisions after the firefighters’ union accused him of preventing rescue crews from assisting with deadly Kerr County flooding
The IAFF says President Freddy Escobar failed to properly document over $212,000 in expenses, reaffirming audit findings despite new receipts
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
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