Labor and Union Issues
At a City Hall meeting, residents, activists, and city employees offered mixed reactions to Kristin Crowley’s ousting, while unionized firefighters rallied behind her
Former Bellingham firefighters alleged that a 2021 vaccine mandate violated their rights and caused emotional distress through a “scorched-earth” enforcement policy
Scranton firefighters face expanded coverage under a new city directive, sparking union concerns over safety, workload and lack of communication
Tamalyn Nigretto wasn’t invited to speak to the media or included when they mayor thanked the fire crew; she said the incident underscores how difficult it is for women to succeed as firefighters
Budget cuts led the city to discontinue bi-annual cleanings at the fire stations; two fire stations had to be closed due to mold and dead mice in air vents
Since November, cars have been stolen from the station and firefighting gear has been intentionally burned
The attorney general filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed against two firefighters over missing firefighter funds
The payment did not comply with state law because it was not approved by the council and exceeded the $50,000 cap
The cuts are the result of an expected city deficit of $25.7M; the fire chief said the cuts could “impact how we provide services to the community”
Steve McInerny was the fire chief for seven years; issues began to arise when the union claimed the chief exaggerated department needs and misled the public
Three-fourths of the department signed the letter; they also chastised the chief for taking a pay raise despite budget issues
One firefighter quit and six others were asked to turn in their equipment after refusing to sign a new confidentiality agreement
The city administration reached a settlement with the city’s police and fire unions to pay back millions owed in back pay because of a supreme court ruling on pensions in 2011
Dozens of firefighters participated in a “kegs and eggs” party at a shuttered fire station; the party was a send off for a retired firefighter and the station
Financial compensation is a small piece of why firefighters stay or leave a department; here are the bigger reasons
An investigation found up to $5 million missing from a volunteer fire department’s funds; the agreement requires the department to provide detailed expenditure reports
Lack of training records, failure to file tax returns and failure to register as an emergency response agency were among the problems
County chiefs say the president is “frustrating the forward progress” of emergency services
Firefighters claim they are owed 10 hours of overtime per 24-day pay cycle; the total could exceed $100,000
Around 15 firefighters from the city will be stationed at the new public safety complex upon completion
The discussion was sparked after a fire chief refused a neighboring department’s call for help over a funding dispute; here’s what our readers had to say about when to refuse mutual aid
The report into five Australian paramedics’ suicides was completed last year, but has not been released to the public
An attorney said the lieutenant has retired and can’t be disciplined; he’s accused of failing to respond to a call for a choking child
The firefighters hosted the “kegs and eggs” themed party as a sendoff for the old station and a firefighter who was leaving
Proposed budget cuts would eliminate six high-level staff positions; the union president said members are being treated unfairly
The department has used several tactics to get those interested in volunteering including word of mouth, the town newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, the newspaper and radio
The firefighters association said the fire service needs to be taken out of the grants budget and funded with public safety appropriations
The decision was made due to funding considerations of the county; the chief admitted to making mutual aid decisions on a case-by-case basis
The co-founder of EMS1 issues an open letter to a system addicted to the status quo and outlines a path to great medicine
The department’s president, who resigned before the vote, said he wanted the old patch to go back to what they had when he joined 18 years ago
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the negotiated deal will provide protection to first responders and save money; it must still pass a special election ballot put to voters
A responder to the dispatcher’s request said the department couldn’t respond due to funding considerations; a fire chief said their refusal came at a critical time during their house fire battle
Firefighters have been letting their hair grow to protest a contract in arbitration; the chief said they need to be neat and clean
MOST POPULAR
- Chicago FFs sue city, FD over violation of constitutional rights in search for guns, weapons
- Union furious after Congress drops 9/11 healthcare funding from budget
- NY assigns flashing-lights, sirens vehicles to town officials
- Pink T-shirt ban for NJ firefighters
- San Antonio chief, union in dispute over new policy