Labor and Union Issues
A Norfolk firefighter fired for off-duty medical marijuana use is challenging his dismissal as state law now protects employees using medical cannabis off the clock
As part of a restructuring plan, three Fort Myers Beach battalion chief positions will be cut, prompting warnings about leadership gaps on emergency scenes
About 85 Teamsters at Sutphen, Columbus’ main fire truck supplier, are on strike, raising concerns as the city faces an aging fleet
Union officials said the move to increase total staff will decrease response times and keep firefighters safe
Deputy Fire Chief James Garcia said the city fired him in 2015 after he underwent neck surgery
Jennifer Yager alleges that she was forced out of the department because she was married to another employee
The order may bar the Forest Service from hiring seasonal or part-time firefighters
An alternative would allow police and firefighters to transfer over to a new city-run pension system with reduced guaranteed benefits but less risk of insolvency
Capt. Brent Blamires claimed he was fired for blowing the whistle on Fire Chief Jason Keller’s driving a fire district vehicle while under the influence
Due to the fire union’s request, the county has temporarily placed reducing staffing at nine stations from three to two firefighters on hold
According to union officials, the airport does not have proper sleeping facilities for firefighters, some of whom are are working back-to-back shifts
After leaving the fire service, firefighters could receive up to five years of coverage for an illness
After June Stilwell spent the last two weeks before her retirement behind a desk after suffering shoulder pain, her pension was reduced
The fire union president calls it a “slap in the face” to the department, others say he earned the deal
The fire service doesn’t come free and now is the time to remind newly elected or re-elected officials of that fact
During the past four years, the Watertown Fire Department’s overtime has more than doubled
Elizabeth Hinton was the city’s only female firefighter after she was hired in 2006, and said the harassment got worse after she became pregnant
The firefighters said the district should have included not just hourly pay in its calculation of the regular pay rate, but also other compensation
After being denied the grant renewal, at least nine other Chico firefighters face layoffs
The starting salary for firefighters and police officers will also increase at least 15 percent over three years, bringing their pay “close to market”
Investigators said the current union president has discovered over 45 forged checks made payable to former union treasurer Joshua Diamond
With over half of their staff taking the city’s firefighter exam, the department’s EMS team will have to work overtime
Lt. Keith Long died Dec. 8 after a four-year battle with colon cancer, a disease he claimed was caused by his career
Pension officials said allowing the withdrawals would leave them without the liquid reserves required to sustain $2.1 billion fund
When Capt. Christopher Bartley filed a formal request for 911 data relating to calls placed on hold, officials told him they didn’t have the data
In a one-sentence email sent to all department members, Oxford Fire Chief Wayne Jones announced he would resign at the end of the year
The Springfield Fire Department stated that closing two fire stations would improve response times
Union officials responded to the chief’s email by writing a letter to city hall, calling for the chief to be held accountable for his lack of leadership
An online petition states a paid fire chief “will have an unwanted and unwarranted impact on our community”
Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode said it would cost nearly $100,000 per firefighter to fill the department’s vacancies
The investigation found no merit to the numerous allegations that Fire Chief Charles Middleton created a hostile working environment, mistreated employees and implemented illegal hiring practices
The Wilmington Fire Department will place one fire engine out of service instead of closing stations on a rotational basis
Firefighter: “I won’t say I’ve gotten used to it, but I’ve learned to adjust to it.”