By Adam Brandolph
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh firefighters soon will be randomly tested for drugs and can be fired for failing as part of the five-year contract agreed to by city and union officials last week, Public Safety Director Mike Huss said Monday.
“We still have the labor management committee working out the details, but at minimum, it will provide random testing for the first time,” Huss said. “They will immediately be terminated the next time there’s a problem.”
Joe King, president of the fire union, said random testing is the “prudent thing to do.”
“People in this society hold us to a higher standard and we agree, but it’s very complicated,” he said. “Everybody’s entitled to a second chance.”
Members of the Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No. 1 Friday approved a deal that keeps their compensation within the guidelines set by state financial oversight teams. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl signed the contract yesterday.
Under the terms of the contract, the city’s 628 firefighters will get a $2,000 bonus in 2010 and a 2 percent raise each year through 2014. They will pay 0.5 percent more toward their pensions, raising their contribution to 7 percent.
State law says Pittsburgh firefighters can’t be fired unless the action is approved by a trial board of three other firefighters, something Huss said the city has “struggled with for a long time.” The new process will set aside the trial board for drug offenses only, he said.
“There are some cases we’ve been very frustrated with. It’s a small percentage, but we put a lot of trust in these folks and we have to make sure they’re clean and can function safely,” Huss said.
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