Labor and Union Issues
Leaders, we must stay focused the myriad issues impacting our membership, even those that can feel distant from day-to-day operations
Salem officials had challenged whether Firefighter Maurice Stadeli’s cancer was occupational
The temporary pay raise created in 2021 for Department of the Interior firefighters is scheduled to end on Sept. 30
Chief Mike Ballmann and Division Chief Randy Sanders were offered buyouts in an effort to trim an organization that was too top heavy
“We were able to find enough money to keep 15 people employed, so rather than 50 (layoffs) we’re looking at 35,” said Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez
The owner says he’s being treated unfairly by the city after testifying in court that firefighters needed more than a 48-hour training course to become paramedics
Firefighters say the board bought the vests as a ploy to show they’re afraid of the fire union
The firefighter out on disability, caught on video weightlifting, has filed a suit against the city for suspending his disability pension
Documents detail problems the department had with staffing issues, fuel for generators, and even food for the firefighters
Their staff was nearly cut from 53 to 37 firefighters; as a result, they had to close a firehouse
Chief Garry DeJong said the resignation is for health reasons
Interim fire chief vows to keep politics out and deal with life safety as he tries to replace 116 firefighters
The city’s inspector general said they should be fired, but the city noted a prior failure to make that punishment stick in a related case
The mayor’s $8 billion budget outlined plans to unify emergency call centers and gradually replace uniformed firefighters with lower-paid civilian phone operators
Police filed charges against Ryan Jones, including theft, forgery, receiving stolen property and bad checks, for allegedly stealing more than $15,000
Their supervisor, Lt. Kellene Davis, filed for and received retirement with benefits amid accusations of standing by as Mills died
Lt. Kellene Davis’ retirement was approved before she could face punishment after a man died across the street from a firehouse
The union said that the rules surrounding the devices violate their contract
The plaintiffs announced Monday that police union members, the smallest of the groups, had rejected it
“This contract was pretty much done before the tragedy...we delayed it a couple weeks because of the fact of what happened with the loss of the two firefighters,” Mayor Martin Walsh said
The fire chief contacted the fire marshal’s office after the firefighter failed to return $4,000 worth of equipment when he left
The city wants to form a committee to review the report of a consultant, who has been criticized for failing to meet with rank-and-file firefighters
Lt. Davis submitted her second request in a timely manner, and since she is eligible for retirement, Chief Ellerbe is required to accept it
The chief said the shifting of EMS responsibilities to a different county would reduce their calls by 300 a year
The city is proposing a 6 percent cut for retired police officers and firefighters, and a 26 percent cut for other retirees
The layoffs are determined by seniority affecting firefighters that were hired most recently
The firefighters got in trouble for posing in a campaign photo with a city council candidate
There are nearly two dozen fire trucks parked in the city’s fleet maintenance yard; there is a shortage of mechanics to work on them
The deal offered retirees a modest pension increase of $500 with the promise of additional increases sooner than the current law calls for
The association is also pushing for expanded cancer coverage for sick volunteer firefighters
Muriel Bowser said she would serve everyone and would get rid of the current fire chief if she became mayor
Family members expressed outrage over the department’s handling of the issue, including holding a close-door review of the officer on duty
Chief Jim Walkowski asked for the board to lay him off as a way to improve the financial condition of the agency
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