By Don Spatz
The Reading Eagle
READING, Pa. — The city’s budget woes worsened Saturday as its fi refighters union rejected contract concessions that would have eliminated a scheduled 3.25 percent pay raise and allowed the city to lay off 15 firefighters and seven paramedics.
That means most of the $3 million the city had hoped to cut from the fire bureau — as part of the $15 million it’s desperately trying to cut from the 2010 budget — will have to come from somewhere else such as layoffs from police or other city departments, or higher taxes.
The union formally notified the city of the rejection Friday, and union President Keith J. Eschleman warned City Council at its meeting Saturday that an arbitrator would make the city pay if it violates the contract.
A 1994 arbitration award that’s still in effect requires the city to staff at least 22 fi refighters per shift, even after vacations and illnesses.
The proposed layoffs would have taken staffi ng levels to 21 and possibly as low as 16, depending on how many fi refighters were out for illness or vacation.
Meanwhile, city Managing Director Ryan P. Hottenstein told council the city has rescinded its plan to eliminate one of the three emergency ambulances but still hoped to cut further on the firefighting side.
Fire Chief William H. Rehr III told council that could take staffing down to 14 per shift and take another engine out of service, far more than what’s safe for the city.
“I’d have to operate with it, but I will not accept responsibility and liability for it,” Rehr said. “I’m not intending to scare anyone, but this is reality. You can’t cut a fire department by 21 percent and expect it to do the same work.”
Rehr told council that layoffs would mean he’d have to end mutual aid to surrounding departments, put several engines out of service, and end the practice of sending EMT-trained firefighters on medical calls.
But Rehr’s worries are moot if the firefighters allow no concessions.
Eschleman said the rejection wasn’t his move but came from a vote by the firefighters.
Copyright 2009 Reading Eagle