Labor and Union Issues
St. Paul firefighters held an informational picket after going over 200 days without a contract
Boise unions skipped candidate forums after members showed clear support for former police chief Mike Masterson
Collective bargaining is being promoted as a recruitment, retention benefit for Portsmouth
The union argued that the city could not impose such new assignments unilaterally under the union’s contract
The association was under scrutiny after a former fire chief and assistant chief forged checks and made fake invoices
Dispute happened in 2011 when a resident appeared at a fire station with beer to thank firefighters for extinguishing house fire
The report calls for limiting police response to nonviolent calls, like medical runs, and shifting arson investigation to the fire department or cutting it completely
Chief Kelvin Cochran said he faced religious discrimination when he was fired after publishing a controversial book
Officials need to spend more on the recruitment of qualified women and minorities and develop ways of ranking candidates
Derek Hogg is a few months shy of being able to qualify for a disability pension that would help his wife and two young children
Fire Chief David Stone said he decided to stay on after being encouraged by other firefighters and town residents
The report said paid firefighters lacked paramedic credentials and that volunteer firefighters arrive at an emergency as quickly as paid firefighters do
The firefighters state they work 216 total hours during a four-week period, 96 hours one pay period and 120 the second
Officials want the department to boost safety procedures, command training and technology in the aftermath of a firefighter Stanley Wilson’s death
Mayor Kasim Reed said he fired Chief Kelvin Cochran because he did not get clearance to write to book
Firefighters left the station on Dec. 31 to respond to a car wreck; when they returned about 45 minutes later, their station was on fire
The change in protocol comes after three firefighters were arrested for suspected drunk driving during a seven-week period last summer
The four-year contract increased salaries by 9.25 percent; it also changed how healthcare costs are managed
David Stone said selectmen’s refusal last week to reimburse him $34 for ink cartridges was the final straw
The suit claims he was promised rehiring if he resigned; charges that he stole a USB drive with racy photos were dropped
Steps are being taken toward a standard method of criminal background searches on prospective volunteers
They were placed on probation because officials were unable to find several required documents, including training records
Anthony Bronk was charged with five counts of theft by swindle for allegedly stealing $188,000 from the organization over four years
A Massport spokesman claimed the discussion and vote on the costly new jobs were held in private because they involved a labor matter
Navigating overtime and shift-trade expectations can be a minefield for a probationary firefighter; here’s advice on how to come through it in one piece
All firefighters, old and new, will undergo criminal background checks and random drug tests starting this month
Chief Julius Hatfield is currently on paid leave while he is under investigation for abuse of public trust and insurance fraud
There’s always going to be something to worry about, but a new year does offer everyone a new start and new optimism
Roberta Ivory posted a photo to Twitter that showed her sitting in a Dallas Cowboys luxury suite that belongs to the parent company of the county’s ambulance contractor
The firefighters’ union questioned the chief’s authority to reduce certain fines and the mayor’s participation in affairs involving a campaign contributor
New-found money will keep the 32 firefighter jobs safe until June 30.
The bill would establish a fund that would cover the cost of treatment and lost wages when firefighters are diagnosed with certain cancers
They said the men appeared as public servants who were relatively anonymous and called it a legitimate work assignment