Labor and Union Issues
As part of a restructuring plan, three Fort Myers Beach battalion chief positions will be cut, prompting warnings about leadership gaps on emergency scenes
About 85 Teamsters at Sutphen, Columbus’ main fire truck supplier, are on strike, raising concerns as the city faces an aging fleet
Kansas City fire department officials and union members say outdated facilities and rising call volumes demand urgent upgrades, but they remain divided on how to fix it
Firefighter Dominic S. Biscari was responding to a fire when he ran a red light, struck a car and sent it into a building killing 3 people
Tulsa firefighters’ union has been reviewing the use of marijuana for pain relief for several years
Union says the department only functions because personnel work additional 24-hour shifts each month
Joe Kerr served with the Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Fire Department for over 30 years
Herders have been paid a minimum salary to be on-call 24/7, available for overtime, but new regulations have raised the minimum
Firefighters and police officers say pension cuts in 2012 are a reason why recruitment is low
Hillsborough County firefighters lined the halls at St. Joseph’s Hospital to honor Firefighter Jerrad Huprich
Yakima firefighters’ union says stations are already understaffed and cutting 12 firefighters will severely hurt response times
80% of the Reedy Creek Fire Department’s 185 staff members signed off on the deal, paving the way for a significant bump in starting pay and benefits
Norman firefighters said the proposal was an effort to silence them after news outlets published concerns about the department’s lack of mental health resources
The union filed an unfair labor practices charge, claiming that West Chester “unilaterally changed the terms and conditions of employment”
Former Manhattan Beach Chief Robert Espinosa has returned to work at the El Segundo Fire Department
“We’re still having issues with the administration on calculations,” said Gary Firefighters Union 359 President Larry Tillman II
The attorney for embattled Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Joseph Dolan calls the request part of a political hit job
Dennis L. Rubin will begin overseeing 18 Kansas City FD stations and managing areas such as EMS and special operations on June 1
The Westwood fire union has been without a contract for more than 660 days — the longest such battle in the Boston area
Melbourne Firefighter Aaron Starkey also alleged that after he brought the image to the union’s attention, he was confronted by the accused chief
Timothy W. Gorman ruled that Ogdensburg violated the collective bargaining deal when it forced the FD to have than five members on a shift over two years
Boise crewmembers will receive 9% and 7% wage increases this year, plus 3.5% increases in 2024 and 2025 and a new holiday
In his resignation letter, Kansas City Chief Michael Callahan urged crewmembers to keep each other safe and lauded the department for its talent and competency
Apopka Fire Chief Sean Wylam has been under pressure since Firefighter Austin Duran’s on-duty death last year
The Portland City Council’s provision is part of a labor deal to increase pay for firefighters forced to work mandatory overtime due to short staffing
The Henderson city council also approved 3% raises for public safety union members
The proposal has been disputed by insurance firms and municipal interest groups who fear the bill would overburden towns and workers’ compensation insurers
“The very gear designed to protect firefighters, to keep us safe, is killing us,” said General President Edward Kelly, calling the NFPA standard that requires PFAS needless
“The City agrees it will not enforce the existing December 20, 2021, Vax Mandate Policy against Local 718 members,” the agreement with the firefighters reads
26 unions voted against the move to remove traditional Medicare as an option
The DeSantis appointees also said they would help award death benefits to Lesly Dorminy, the widow of longtime Reedy Creek firefighter Lt. James Dorminy
Union officials allege the city did not conduct a disciplinary investigation before it sought to have Dominic Biscari terminated following the fatal incident
IAFF Local 42 leaders said that other Kansas City FD employees had similar physical altercations with patients or residents and were not disciplined or terminated