Labor and Union Issues
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration planned to have a hearing officer rule, in public, on discipline instead of an arbitration process
The IAFC president – the “chief of chiefs” – surrounds himself with passionate people who support the mission and the organization
Earlier arbitration ruled that Montville could not staff its firehouse with just one firefighter
Unlike other fire department hires, the applicants didn’t have to take a written exam or be physically certified before sitting down for interviews
Fire Chief Noel James Fetters was arrested on theft and fraud charges after buying a leather helmet on a city credit card and did not return it when he resigned
The department paid more than $150,000 above what was necessary to buy out three administrators, including the former chief, and negotiated the agreements behind closed doors
Controversy-plagued Chief Ellerbe, who has been chief since 2011, said he was not pushed aside and is retiring voluntarily
An audit said the department suffers from poor morale and inconsistent leadership
Decatur Division Chief Lorenzo Jackson lost out to Knoxville Battalion Chief Tony Grande
The governor is expected to sign the bill making it a misdemeanor if fire chiefs disclose chemicals used in oil and gas mining
They are down nearly 40 volunteer firefighters after a new set of SOGs were not passed by the village board
The firefighters and their union argue the city is legally prohibited from laying off firefighters if it has the money available to save the jobs
The audit criticized the department for giving firefighters hefty longevity payments and failing to use volunteers
County Supervisor Marco Antonio Reyes says the women’s experiences should serve as a lesson for residents of unincorporated areas
The investigation began when the fire chief discovered that the fund’s bank account was overdrawn
Both sides have until May 28 to file objections before the vote is final
Under the changes, firefighters have to report to the emergency room or the city fire clinic for a health screening in order to qualify for a sick day
Corey Michael Davis, 20, was charged with six counts of arson related to causing danger of death or bodily injury
One homeowner confronted the fire chief after firefighters set a vacant house on fire on purpose; she showed him the video on her cell phone
The cost of the sick days is up 40 percent in the fire department, compared to 12 percent across the rest of city government
The city’s rebuttal attempts to cast doubt on the report’s methodology, but the consulting firm hired by AMR dismissed the critique as “inaccurate”
They’re adding four aircraft to its firefighting fleet ahead of what’s expected to be another hot, dry summer in the West
Fire Chief Robert Bello said the rig is the single most important truck the department has; officials want to replace it with a 23-year-old truck
Deputy Mayor Andy Kopplin said the judgment will be devastating to the city’s budget and could potentially lead to cutting critical city services
Asst. Chief Charles Dowd is one of subjects of a federal investigation into FirstNet; he has been transferred to run the transit division for reasons unknown
They approved a proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged discrimination against African-American and Hispanic firefighter job hopefuls
Opponents say it will strain budgets and invite fraudulent claims
The fire department is accused of picking calls from areas with higher incomes, more insurance coverage and a greater likelihood of payment
Not only can harassment and discrimination undermine your leadership, they can land you in court; here’s how to protect yourself
The temporary move aims to reduce overtime pay to stay within budget
The law firm will handle the lawsuit against its firefighters union over the city’s efforts to reduce fire department staffing and services
Lawyers disagree on how the term ‘voluntary’ applies to the rule prohibiting fire, EMS from serving on boards in another district
Fire Chief Stephen Kovalcik is asking the city to pay for a seventh fire station; he said sometimes it takes up to nine minutes for his crews to get to emergencies
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