Labor and Union Issues
At least 180 IAFF members live in the affected areas, with nine confirmed to have lost their homes
Delray’s vice mayor is questioning if firefighters might have had issues with their licenses after the chief sent out a memo on driver’s license requirements after the crash
Union officials said the toll could delay getting firefighters to firehouses and create an estimated $1.8M in overtime pay
Charles Turner II argued the commission violated tiebreaker rules when he applied for the promotion in June
Fire chief seeks federal grants to pay for additional personnel
The federal grant will hire 14 new firefighters and increase the dept.'s staff level to 425
Department members will receive a three percent raise and paid time off for continuing education
The department only has between four and seven firefighters on duty during each shift
Following staffing shortages last year, the city racked up $300K in overtime pay
Town representative believes the new personnel will result in a “better community”
Chief: “It’s a very difficult decision to have to do this”
Lt. Danielle Masse is alleging a pattern and practice of deliberate discrimination and harassment against women and lesbians
A doctor hired by the city ruled that the firefighter’s quadruple bypass surgery was an “elective procedure”
A union official said Cal Fire employees work more hours than their municipal counterparts but still take home less cash
Union president: “There are going to be negative consequences to these cuts”
The city is considering replacing a fire apparatus with a paramedic unit at one of the stations
The St. Paul chief claimed the vote is a “tool” to pressure officers who disagree with the union
During a vote last month, 490 of 563 firefighters expressed their disapproval of the chief
Union president: “It’s next to flag-burning in my mind”
A retired firefighter and police officer sued the city, arguing that the changes were unconstitutional and a violation of their pension contracts
The IAFF study also claimed that firefighters are 14 percent more likely to die from cancer
Union president: “This decision was not taken lightly”
Fortunately, there are steps fire chiefs can take to make this job easier for the officers and the firefighters
Low pay and failing equipment has driven away almost half of all new paramedics
Retiring firefighters will be replaced by newly-hired firefighter-EMTs
The complaint alleges the employee dispatched himself and responded to fire calls, put out fires and acted as and wore a similar uniform as fire command staff
The complaint argued the that demotion violates the union’s collective bargaining agreement
Nine locations in Oregon and Washington filled the top 20 slots
The ruling ordered a commission to revisit a firefighter’s PTSD work compensation claim
The Omaha Professional Fire Fighters Association has disavowed the posts
Negative Facebook comments about protestors may have been wrong, but were their terminations right?
Recovering from last administration’s “dictatorship,” firefighters are rebounding with new gear, equipment and leadership
The chief said she refused to apologize for “having high standards, holding the work force accountable, and making sure they’re fit to do their job”