Labor and Union Issues
Kansas City fire department officials and union members say outdated facilities and rising call volumes demand urgent upgrades, but they remain divided on how to fix it
Kansas City’s finance committee rejected a proposed $915,000 settlement for a firefighter who killed three people in a 2021 crash
Kansas City Firefighter Dominic Biscari may receive nearly $1 million to settle a grievance filed by the firefighters’ union after the city suspended him without pay
The practice, used to halt overtime, was suspended the day after two Wilmington firefighters were killed in a rowhouse fire.
“Anyone with the talent, tenacity and valor to serve in the FDNY should have the opportunity to do so,” said NY Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Those payments follow a change in the overtime payment structure after it became clear the city no longer could use what’s known as the “fluctuating work week” method
A survey surfaced complaints about the lack of professionalism, concerns over poor pay, a widespread distrust of leaders and a host of other issues
Fire Chief Keith Weaver was terminated for taking a ladder truck outside the municipality for a firefighter’s funeral
A veteran firefighter said the rate for swapping a shift can range from $250 to $350
Despite his termination, Thomas Foote can still volunteer as a firefighter with the department
Firefighters took a truck, an ambulance and another fire vehicle when they went out to pass out candy
The controversy of whether firefighters should be permitted to wash their personal vehicles at fire stations began in April
Per terms of the new contract, union employees will receive cost-of-living wage increases of 2.25 percent for this year, 2017 and 2018
Officials said Assistant Chief Joe Jones was placed on leave regarding an ongoing personnel matter
Harmless perks firefighters enjoy may come under fire as they evolve into quasi-municipal employees
Lt. Gerry Collins, 41, failed to report his DUI and reportedly attempted to avoid the charge because he is a firefighter
The controversy began in April when a town manager told the department they couldn’t wash their personal vehicles at the station
The judge also sided with the city, approving a less generous interpretation of how quickly firefighters will accrue retirement benefits
A fire official said both firefighters have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation
The directive for the new SOP came from the city manager as a result of eight captains who were demoted to firefighters in July
One city official called the fire department’s overtime budget of $1.48 million unacceptable
The filing alleges a breach of contract for changing union police and fire employees’ plans without reopening contract negotiations
The firefighter was arrested after crashing his vehicle with his young children inside two years ago
In a controversial decision, trustees voted in April to disband the town’s department and to contract the aid of a neighboring department
The department has resorted to using outdated trucks and borrowing vehicles from other departments
The average salary for Colorado Springs firefighters falls below the actual pay at other city departments
The allegations comes a month after a female firefighter reported being intimidated and hazed by male colleagues
After the DEA looked at firefighters’ prescription drug histories, they accused two of them with stealing medication from ambulances
The former firefighter alleges the department failed to follow standard policy when firing him
Rick Fontana is no longer permitted to work the fire department command board, utilize any fireground radio channel and can’t respond to any fire scene
The chief was denied permission to take the ladder truck, but did so regardless
The city councilman stated the community as a whole has done a poor job of recruiting diverse candidates for the two departments
In response to the union president’s accusations, the fire chief said morale is a two-way street