Labor and Union Issues
A Virginia Beach task force made recommendations regarding bargaining units, salaries and working conditions
Boston, Worcester and 31 other cities and towns will receive less money than expected
Mayor Eric Adams announced a reversal to proposed staffing cuts, layoffs of firefighters on long-term disability
The chief said that if voters reject the levy, the department would lay off firefighters and possibly close one of its four fire stations
The city offered an incentive for up to five members to be paid $1,000 per year for each year they served
Fire officials want to merge two fire departments to help with call responses
Firefighters are now granted a higher cap in hours to use for sick leave in cause of a catastrophic illness
Council president Joseph Kibler said he would get rid of all firefighters like a neighboring city that has a part-paid, part-volunteer fire department
City officials say they’ve spent millions of dollars building and improving fire stations in recent years
He was hired despite having 10 misdemeanor arrests and convictions for assault, resisting arrest, public intoxication and theft
The dispute centers over whether or not the firefighters are volunteers or municipal employees
Officials said they decided not to hire a new chief because the finalists selected were “not a good long-term fit for the city”
The mistake reinforced the department’s lack of confidence in the city’s ability to pay its firefighters correctly
Firefighters say their response times have suffered due to less than ideal current accommodations
The closed door meeting comes on the heals of another slow response time, and the death of a 94-year-old at the scene
EMS, fire and police who want pension benefits for same-sex partners will have to wait longer
The audit prompted Fire Chief David Freda to enact a more stringent policy, but found no evidence of misuse
The study will focus on how the county would bill for services and collect payments under the new model
Councilmembers told him he could either transfer to the city police department or be terminated
The city maintains Rep. Emily Kane is breaking city rules by holding an elected position and also being a firefighter
Department representatives said they want to focus on firefighting and stay away from the political scene
The city filed a motion to have the consent degree dissolved, arguing it had made sufficient progress of increasing the number of African Americans on the force
The firefighters are currently working out of a cinderblock training center and sleeping in a classroom; the situation could last four more years
The mayor said ambulance response times average five to six minutes since privatizing the service; firefighters say that isn’t always the case
The mistake reinforced the department’s lack of confidence in the city’s ability to pay its firefighters correctly
Union officials said the chief has offered no leadership or guidance on how the department will operate at its reduced levels
Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially vetoed the bill, which could not become a law until he signed it
Local police are upset that they were denied access to information about the case; county police are investigating the theft charges
Nearby municipalities have taken over emergency duties for the closed stations
He was placed on desk duty pending an investigation by posting hate speech directed at Muslims on his personal Facebook page
Forcing firefighters to exercise and abstain from tobacco is not the best way to sell better health and job performance, but may be necessary initially
A firefighter turned himself in for embezzling an unknown amount of funds; he faces multiple felonies
The decision to reduce personnel on each fire shift from nine to six ended the city’s high overtime costs