Labor and Union Issues
The closing of a Summit Township firehouse came during a time when township officials and the firefighters’ union were working on contract mediation
IAFF President Edward Kelly and U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the nation’s first federally registered apprenticeship program, aimed at tackling recruitment challenges
Winston-Salem officials say cutting sick and vacation days could help fund more competitive salaries
William Klobus joined the department 11 years ago and may have been its oldest member
Vincent Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union Local 3621, says Capt. Alison Russo might still be alive if someone had been with her
“We have firefighters that are working 96-hour shifts,” said Isaac McLennan of the Portland Firefighter’s Association
G. Wade Cannon’s cancer battle reportedly inspired other Flower Mound firefighters to get checked and two of them discovered early-stage colon cancer
The death of Capt. Carlos Rivera at a Newark FD firehouse resulted in the transfer of 89 members, including all 40 FFs and captains assigned to the Park Ave. station where he died
“Now we know our own gear is part of that problem,” IAFF General President Edward Kelly said about PFAS
NASA officials say Fire Station 3 has not responded to a fire call in five years, and the other two stations handle 90% of responses
“For the third time, we told you we are out of service,” an EMT is heard saying on a recording of Baltimore City Fire Department radio traffic
The plaintiffs allege that changes to Morgantown policy will disproportionately affect members’ pay and benefits, as well as the departments’ ability to hire
West Chester Township leaders say the policy will save the city about $230,000 in overtime
The Seattle Firefighters Union said there have been about 40 alleged attacks on on-duty firefighters over four months
The agreement would require approval from union members and the legislature
The Honolulu Fire Department is leading the investigation with assistance from federal, state and local agencies
Lorain Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Homolya had been on leave since March
The Brainerd city council approved the agreement with Firefighters Union Local No. 4725 after an earlier ruling that the city violated state labor laws
Fire Union Vice President Mike Salsgiver also criticized Fire Chief Graham Archer but said bargaining sessions with Swampscott have been productive
Capt. Mike Smith, president of IAFF Local 21, left a golf course after attending a celebration of life and was pulled over on his way home
Tampa’s contracts with Firefighters Local 754, the Police Benevolent Association and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1464 include pay increases over three years
Lake Charles officials said that raises were approved recently; each firefighter also earns $6,000 in annual supplemental pay in addition to the $11.17 per hour rate
Approximately 22% of members requested exemptions, the highest proportion among the city’s largest departments; 4% currently on leave
According to Local 854, like the department’s alcohol policy, there will be testing for cause if a member is thought to be impaired on the job
“He has been the most pro-first responder governor that I have seen in my entire 37 years in Florida,” said Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters President Jon Shirey
Auburn Permanent Firefighters Local 4157 established a fund to support the family of Lt. Paul Wood
Recently completed toxicology tests showed that New Britain Firefighter Matthew Dizney had multiple drugs in his system when he died in January
Eric Wisher, president of Troy Uniform Firefighters Association Local 86, suggests the city lower the requirement to an EMT certification
“His hair was up, and it was legal,” said District Fire Chief Terrance Jones, a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Firefighters
Wichita union president Ted Bush said the city’s salary offer was not comparable with other area large cities and blamed the department’s staffing level on the pay
Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 562, which allows a 48-hour leave following a critical incident
“We’ve had multiple situations because of how poorly maintained our fleet of vehicles is, where an ambulance will break down en route to critical calls,” the union president said
Of the 240 firefighters represented by Stamford Professional Fire Fighter Local 786, only 75 cast ballots