Labor and Union Issues
A tire came off a tower ladder assigned to Truck 23, damaging two vehicles
The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Bureau of Fire are at odds over firefighters taking over patient transports and rescues
The consulting firm hired to study fire services in Butte and Silver Bow County claimed it “had never worked in a community where it was so controversial”
The ideas included giving new recruits a relocation bonus, down-payment help and creating a private health care exchange
Mike Spencer was placed on a week-long administrative leave for the second time in three years
The mayor blamed the fire department’s resignations on campaign agendas that included cutting taxes
Officials said they’ve been trying for years to resolve staffing shortage, firefighter housing and funding issues
The city wants firefighters to maintain their license throughout their career; the union is advocating for it to be required only a portion of that time
The rationale for firefighters being equipped with the medication was a spike in overdose drug deaths
Safety experts say daily inspections have been abandoned and some trucks are more than 200 days past due on inspections
A picture of a firefighter’s wife breastfeeding their infant son in his turnout gear has stirred controversy and made national news
A presumptive disabilities act was passed in 2012 but funding was never approved
The city is reducing the number of firefighters per shift from 10 to eight; the union is suing the city for violation of contract
Screams and boos erupted from the more than 150 residents who filled the meeting room and spilled into the hallway
Chief Frank Roma said he understands the city is in a difficult place; he said the department will provide the same level of service to its residents
Human and system errors led to the payroll mistakes for the nine who are now retired; the firefighters were shocked to learn of the mistake
Richard Stirts, a part-time chief, was told he would have to reapply for his job after the board voted to make the position full time
The firefighter has been disciplined for a string of incidents over the last several years
The firefighters’ union wants annual physicals, but only if there is no punishment for firefighters who fail
Richard Marinucci became Northville Township’s fire chief eight years ago; officials say he resigned, but he says he was fired
A letter was released in March about the vice president of the firefighter association; the letter was part of a personnel file and was not open for public review
The union submitted a letter to the city asking to remove Chief Anthony Goode; Goode is accused of creating an atmosphere of fear at the department
County commissioners introduced a proposal that would change EMS shifts; the paramedic said it would cause experienced medics to seek work elsewhere
The firefighter said the department violated his labor rights by failing to inform him he was under investigation and did not advise him of his rights
The firefighters claim the station did not have working smoke alarms and violated the city’s fire code
The memo was a breach of a firefighter’s personnel file; the city council will determine whether the chief had any responsibility
Naples Fire Chief Steve McInerny faced criticism and concern from city council members for several years before he was fired earlier this month
The Red Springs Fire Department was decertified in January because of insufficient personnel; the decertification was halted temporarily until a judge can decide whether it was justified
The Stafford Fire Department received several state violations after the February incident in which two firefighters transported a child having a seizure in their fire truck
Several of the city’s firefighters received over $100,000 last year; much of that came from overtime pay thanks to staffing changes made to cope with the Affordable Care Act
The deal resolved a months-long impasse with the firefighters union; the mayor and city manager opposed the plan citing economic concerns
The mayor plans to scrap the ambulance mutual aid agreement with three neighboring towns; the proposed new plan was met with skepticism by the former mayor and fire union president
The three firefighters engaged in the inappropriate conduct between 2010 and 2013; each were given a month-long suspension and demoted
