Labor and Union Issues
Utah passed a bill banning collective bargaining for public sector workers after scrapping a compromise
The Fight for Firefighters Act would make approximately 3,000 seasonal firefighters into 12-month employees, increasing the number ready to respond to wildfires
The Uniformed Firefighters Association stated that the two members had served at Ground Zero
Officials said the firefighters injured in a ladder truck training exercise were likely never going to return to active duty
The bill, passed unanimously by the state Senate, would provide 100 percent pension benefits to surviving families
Union officials sent a letter saying they warned the out-going chief not to buy prototype fire trucks, which they say need constant maintenance
City officials stand with the fire chief and the pace of reforms to training, staffing and bringing in private ambulances
Rotating firefighters through stations and the temporary closure of firehouses were implemented as cost saving measures
Major provisions include a new tier for newly hired police and firefighters that limits maximum pension payments and requires employers and employees to share equally in payments to retirement accounts
SOPs built around general expectations rather than specific behaviors will improve morale and be easier to enforce
Dr. Jullette Saussy said the department is resistant to reform and that people are dying needlessly
The bill would provide benefits to the families of public safety officials killed in the line of duty
They received punishments ranging from reprimands, suspensions and probationary periods
There were 1,147 abandoned 911 calls in 2015 due to busy call takers; about half of those calls were bounced to other numbers while workers tried to call back the others
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They were reassigned to duties away from patient care and will undergo additional training while an investigation is conducted
New hires would be given a choice of opting for a 401(k)-style retirement plan rather than a plan with a guaranteed pension
Firefighters are jumping ship because other agencies are offering them better pay and benefits
Commissioner Hood Richardson said he was concerned about the training they had in order to be able to provide medical services
Officials restored $252,978 to the Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association after new leadership paid an outstanding loan
The agreement ends nine years of claims the union brought against the city, with the city agreeing to support the fire outsourcing process and bankruptcy exit plan
He believes the department is listing him as a firefighter to show compliance after a federal racial discrimination lawsuit
The proposal would require newly hired police and firefighters to work for 25 years before they’re entitled to a full pension
A probe of a department’s loss of up to $5 million show a spending spree may not have all gone for equipment purchases
Lawsuit argues the volunteer firefighters were denied due process and that town officials broke the law in suspending them
Chief Gregory Dean said the department’s biggest issue is that it’s not equipped to handle a growing number of medical calls
The back pay will come in addition to a July settlement in a lawsuit filed by 85 firefighters, which several refused to sign because the error hadn’t been fixed
Fire union rep says the budget shortfall took them by surprise and that firefighters are not the only union with a contract that allows layoffs
Inspector General Joe Ferguson said the move would improve public safety outcomes and response time; the union disagrees
The main concern for the firefighters was that a new chief who was appointed isn’t a resident or member of the fire department
Firefighters were upset that the town manager didn’t consult with them about hiring a new chief when Jim Gould resigned Dec. 31
A memo to Jacksonville firefighters tells them to shave or they will be placed on temporary limited duty
The FDNY firefighters, including a deputy chief and three battalion chiefs, claimed they didn’t know a firefighter had gotten the tickets for free
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