Labor and Union Issues
Pawtucket firefighters are criticizing a decision by the fire chief to place a probationary firefighter as an acting deputy chief
A tire came off a tower ladder assigned to Truck 23, damaging two vehicles
The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Bureau of Fire are at odds over firefighters taking over patient transports and rescues
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
A city fire engine and three specialty units were shut down due to an unusual staffing shortage caused by COVID-19 and wildfire response efforts
The Georgetown County firefighter union released a statement detailing all the issues they’ve been facing in hopes of drumming up community support
In a letter to Mayor Lauren Poe, Gainesville Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 2157, said the city is “in complete disarray” over vaccine mandate
The Myrtle Beach Professional Firefighters pushed back at a council meeting addressing the city’s move to stop paying for first responders’ healthcare
Chief Bashoor weighs in on a court ruling upholding the requirement for first responders to serve an additional five years before being eligible for retirement benefits
The union says the starting salary for an EMT will be $39,385, still far less than their firefighter counterparts
In the past year, Polk County first responders have been asked to pick up 4,495 mandatory OT shifts, totaling 89,434 hours
Norwich Fire Fighters Local 892 filed a grievance challenging the city’s requirement that firefighters use personal accrued time off if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus on the job