Labor and Union Issues
Union officials said the toll could delay getting firefighters to firehouses and create an estimated $1.8M in overtime pay
Funding for the World Trade Center Health Program through 2040 was eliminated in the stopgap bill to fund the federal government
A consultant’s review of the fatal fire criticized Sedgwick County’s 911 operations and the Wichita Fire Department’s lack of “self-reflection and accountability”
The measure contains a fire attack restriction, a limit on transit speeds and a thermal imaging camera requirement
“Now we’re going to be able to achieve a much more robust recruitment drive,” said Ralph Sicuro, president of Pittsburgh Firefighters Union Local #1
Firefighters fanned out across Baker City to talk with people after the city announced that it intends to stop ambulance service in September
Union representatives testified in March in favor of cities paying 26.5% of the salaries of officers and firefighters – up from 19.5% for police and 24% for fire
Morgantown providers point out a lack of prorating has caused issues with paychecks, causing some to resign from the department
The La Pine Professional Firefighters Association Local 3387 is taking issue with Pine Rural Fire Protection District Chief Michael Supkis
Dozens of firefighters gathered on the steps of the state capitol to show their support
An attorney for the union argued the study shows that the city’s public safety workers are “even more underpaid than we thought they were all along”
Thomas Aligo was accused of forging over $28,000 in union checks in 2020
After overpaying firefighters $236,288, Fort Worth and the union have been clashing over how to repay the funds, and the dispute will go to an arbitrator
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Chief Brady Hansen said that a county error would have put firefighter, EMT and paramedic salaries “very much on the low end”
The firefighters’ union pushed for the exemption in recent contract negotiations
Dayton leaders say firefighting is hazardous but want to be sure claims have medical evidence; union officials say attempts to deny claims are unconscionable
Unvaccinated members will have to be tested regularly while the legal challenge continues
FDNY
A coalition of unions sued to block the mass firings, but a judge ruled in favor of the city Thursday
Most of the additional spending is related to pay increases for Syracuse firefighters, including a small amount of retroactive pay
IAFF Local 176 President Matt Lay says Tulsa and the mayor have “a legal and moral obligation to compensate our firefighters”
Firefighters Union Local 2 President Jim Tracy said the real number of unvaccinated FFs is even lower as members make the best of a “rotten situation”
Deming Administrator Aaron Sera plans to meet with union representatives and said the city gave firefighter/EMTs a 6.5% raise plus bonuses and promised another 3%
Harold Schaitberger’s financial conduct is again under review; IAFF intends to cooperate, saying “the organization’s status, if any, is that of a victim”
The Tulsa Firefighter’s Union and the city are in arbitration over pay raises
The ruling means that union employees will lose pay if they do not receive a first shot by the deadline
“We already have long delays without EMS units because of staffing issues, crowding at the hospital,” said local union president Rich Langford
Tim Dupin remains on the Kansas City payroll due to the “unique and special opportunity” to spotlight the city, a spokesperson said
The aerospace firms is reportedly considering outsourcing its fire protection duties to a private contractor
Fort Worth has opened or plans to open three fire stations since the findings were published, but the chief has found fault with this year’s response times
Polk County Fire Chief Robert Weech said the union’s claims of service downgrades are “untrue and misleading”
Ryan Takacs, vice president of Firefighters Local 362, said it’s hard not to call South Bend’s smaller increase for firefighters “a slap in the face”
Watertown must now give firefighters out-of-title captains’ pay when they perform captains’ duties while out on medical emergency calls
The announcement could pit the city’s two public safety departments against each other during the Nov. 2 election