IAFF:Always on the Front Line

The economy is affecting IAFF members throughout this union through staffing reductions, station closures, cost shifting and wage concessions as local governments lose revenue. To help IAFF members get a clearer understanding of the depth of the financial crisis, the effect it's having at every level of the economy -- including local and state budgets -- the IAFF has prepared the following summaries of and links to "economic crisis" news articles related to cuts in state and local budgets, fire fighter staffing, health care benefits, compensation, pension plans and other areas as a result of the economic downturn.

Greeley firefighters, police will skip pay increases
The Tribune (07/29/09)
The Greeley fire fighters and police unions voted to skip their annual pay increases in 2010 to help the city deal the economic downturn. The moves will save the city more than $850,000 next year. In June, the city asked the fire fighters and police unions to consider amending their collective bargaining agreements. The city is trying to cut millions of dollars from the 2010 budget to counteract an anticipated revenue shortfall, which could amount to $7 or $8 million, though June estimates were at $4.8 million. The city already has issued a hiring freeze, eliminated non-union wage increases, left dozens of positions vacant, restricted non-essential travel and training and made other cutbacks.

Jacksonville fire department prepares for cuts
Florida Times-Union (07/28/09)
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department faces two unwelcome scenarios for its upcoming budget: the bad, reducing fire fighters, and the worse, closing entire fire stations. The City Council must vote whether to support Mayor John Peyton’s 12 percent property tax rate increase. Under his proposed budget, the fire department only has to cut a few staff positions. Three engine companies could go from having four fire fighters on duty to having only three. State law requires four fire fighters at a scene before any can enter a building on fire, so those three-person crews would have to wait for additional fire fighters to arrive. Fire and Rescue Director Dan Kleman said the cuts aren’t ideal and could affect fire fighter response time, but “it’s hardly a disaster.” It might be, Kleman said, if the property tax increase isn’t approved. If the City Council doesn’t support the increase — pending final approval on September 22 — it will have to make about $50 million in additional cuts. In that case, Kleman said, it’s “very likely that fire stations would have to close.” Peyton has said he thinks it could be two stations, although that decision would be the council’s. “If ultimately we have fewer resources to be able to respond,” Kleman said, “something bad will happen that otherwise would not have happened.”

Parma: Firefighters agree to cost-cutting measures
WKYC-TV (07/28/09)
The City of Parma and Parma fire fighters have agreed on major cost-cutting measures that had previously been voted down by the union, according to Parma Mayor Dean DePiero. Members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 639, AFL-CIO, approved the city's latest proposal, substantially similar to the original cost-cutting plan, by an 84 percent margin. "This is a victory for the taxpayers of Parma," said DePiero. "We have succeeded in cutting fire fighter costs by slashing overtime, foregoing vacation days and holiday premium pay. The safety of our citizens has always remained our top priority." The agreement also allows the city to save money by cutting fire fighter comp time while restoring minimums at 25 fire fighters per shift.
There are five fire stations in the City of Parma. The cost-cutting measures approved by Parma fire fighters will save the city an estimated $650,000.00. The City of Parma has been trimming its budget in order to bridge a $2.4 million tax revenue shortfall. Non-union city employees began taking the first of 16 unpaid furlough days in June. The furlough program will continue through the end of the year.

Safety threat real, city says
Columbus Dispatch (07/26/09)
Tax opponents say a proposal to lay off hundreds of Columbus police officers and fire fighters if voters reject a city income-tax increase is a scare tactic. City officials say it's no idle threat. "I don't bluff," Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown said. "We're not playing poker here. We are now at a stage where we have no other choice." The Public Safety Department consumes 73 percent of the city's general fund, so city leaders say it will face significant cuts without more revenue. Their August 4 request is for a permanent increase in the city income tax, from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, to generate between $90 million and $100 million next year.
Brown thinks the city's ability to protect Public Safety for so long -- sparing it during past budget cuts -- is working against the campaign for the increase. City residents, he suspects, don't believe that the situation is dire. "They don't get it," Brown said. But Matt Ferris, a Republican City Council candidate, contends that the city could keep all police officers and fire fighters without raising taxes. He said Columbus officials have used "smoke-and-mirror numbers" to make the deficit seem worse than it is.

Officials rotate firehouse closings
The Hudson Reporter (07/25/09)
Two firehouses per day have been closed on a rotating basis by the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue squad, which provides fire services to North Bergen, West New York, Weehawken, Union City, and Guttenberg.
The top brass have had to make due with less staff, partly as a result of a NAACP lawsuit that led to a court-mandated hiring freeze. Fire officials have also wanted to avoid paying overtime to the existing fire fighters, particularly with many taking vacations in the summer months. In another cost saving measure, officials have lowered the minimum number of fire fighters needed to operate the department per day from 60 to 54.

Villaraigosa is 'Pointing a Gun at Our Heads,' Says Firefighters Union
LAist (07/24/09)
As part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's "shared sacrifice" plan to save the city budget, cuts proposed to fire department ladder and ambulance companies, nicknamed "brownouts," would short-staff stations on a rotating basis by 87 fire fighters. According to Pat McOsker, President of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles, the last time the city made similar cuts, a mother and daughter died in a South LA fire where the nearest company was browned-out. “We couldn’t get there in time thanks to brownouts, and two people died as a result.” said McOsker. Villaraigosa said that the cuts do not "necessarily" put the city in the situation the union describes and that he has tough and unpopular decisions to make. If the cuts go through, "brownouts" will begin on August 6.
"We will do whatever is necessary to help the city get through the financial crisis we're in right now. All we ask is what we're asked to do be equal with the rest of the city's workforce," McOsker said, referencing a deal struck with other employee unions. "[The cuts] put our lives at risk, and more importantly the public's lives at risk. [Villaraigosa's] pointing a gun at our heads and shots are going to hit the public. This is dangerous."

Cincy won't lay off firefighters
Cincinnati Enquirer (07/24/09)
Cincinnati’s not expected to lay off any fire fighters this year, the fire union president said, but will shut down four companies to save almost $2 million. A company is pumper, a ladder track, or heavy rescue unit and the four fire fighters who work on it. The department has 40 companies. None of the city’s 26 firehouses will be closed. Marc Monahan said he met with Fire Chief Robert Wright and learned that the department will shut down the four companies and transfer the 16 fire fighters who work on those pieces of equipment to other equipment. The transfers will save a lot of money in overtime, he said. The department pays an average of seven fire fighters overtime every day, using them to cover for people on vacation, out sick, in paramedic school and for other reasons. Which companies will be shut down has not been decided, Monahan said. They will be chosen based on run volume, he said, as well as response times and proximity to other companies. The department operates 26 fire stations, each of them with a pumper; 12 of them also have ladder trucks and two have heavy rescue units. The union isn’t happy about the changes, he said, but had expected them.

Dayton firefighters union accepts wage freeze
Dayton Business Journal (07/24/09)
Dayton’s local firefighters' union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 136, has agreed to a wage freeze and other personnel concessions. The concessions are set to save the city about $1.37 million through October of 2010. Fire fighter union members voted to accept the wage freeze for the 2009 to 2010 contract year and also gave up pay for Labor Day, Martin Luther Kind Day, Good Friday and Memorial Day holidays. Mike Fasnacht, president of the local union, said the concessions were made for the safety of the community. “There was serious concern based on the threats of layoffs, threats of demotions and threats of hiring less qualified fire fighters part time,” Fasnacht said. “We’ve taken into consideration the safety of our citizens and the safety of our fire fighters.”

Tulsa Firefighters Respond To Furlough Days
News On 6 (07/17/09)
Tulsa fire fighters have voted to accept the City of Tulsa's proposed budget -- which includes eight furlough days for all 685 fire fighters. The alternative would have meant dozens of layoffs at the fire department. With sales tax revenue down, city leaders say all city employees taking furlough days was the only way to avoid cutting jobs and balance the budget. All other city unions have voted and accepted the city's contract, choosing furlough days over layoffs. Many fire fighters say they had no problem with taking those furlough days, which amounts to a 3 percent pay cut. But they say they feel taken advantage of by a take-it-or-leave it offer and some say the cost cuts are hurting public safety. Fire fighters at Station 22 have seen a lot of changes. In July, they became the first station to get a medical squad truck, but they had to trade out one of their engines.

Judge declines to reinstate Edison firefighters laid off amid budget cuts
The Star-Ledger (07/17/09)
The six Edison fire fighters who were laid off July 16 will remain jobless for at least a week after a judge declined to make a decision on their fate. The Edison firefighters' union took the case to Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick, seeking an injunction one day after Mayor Jun Choi laid off the fire fighters to help close an $8.4 million gap in the town's budget. The union also filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the state Public Employee Relations Committee, alleging Edison acted in "bad faith" by imposing the layoffs.

Firefighters asked to give up raises in 'ultimatum' proposal
Dayton Daily News (07/17/09)
City fire fighters will vote on a contract proposal being characterized by a union official as an “ultimatum” issued by city officials trying to fill a $6 million deficit. A copy of the memorandum of understanding posted in fire stations asks fire fighters to forgo raises next year and give up holiday pay on Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday and Memorial Day in 2010. Qualified fire fighters will also be asked to work up in rank with no additional pay. In return, the city will take the demotion of nine district chiefs off the table and not lay off any fire fighters through the end of May.

St. Lucie County Firefighters Agree To Salary Freeze
WPBF (07/16/09)
St. Lucie County fire fighters are doing their part to help with the county's budget crisis by agreeing to a salary freeze. The fire fighters have agreed not to take a scheduled 7 percent pay increase, saving the St. Lucie County Fire District $2.7 million over the next three years. Chief Ron Parrish said that "the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement shows the commitment that the fire district employees have to the community."

San Rafael firefighters agree to push off raises to ease budget crunch
Marin Independent Journal (07/15/09)
San Rafael fire fighters this week agreed to defer contractual raises to help the city get back on its feet -- leaving about $400,000 over two years lingering longer in the cash-strapped city coffers. "The city and the fire association struck an outstanding agreement, which will certainly help our budget picture," City Manager Ken Nordhoff said. Members of the 68-member San Rafael Firefighters Association were set to get their second raises this month as part of a three-year contract ratified in 2008, which features 3 percent raises each year for three years. Instead, under the new agreement those raises will be delayed until January 2010. The third raise, originally set for July 2010, also will be pushed off to January 2011, officials said. "We understand that these are very unique times right now," said engineer-paramedic Andy Rogerson, union president. "We believe that working with the city and doing things we might not have done in other times, that this is the path we need to take right now.

Orlando budget cuts might lead to fewer ambulances
Orlando Sentinel (07/14/09)
For Robert Christopher, Orlando's budget crunch is more about lives than numbers — including his own. Christopher, 61, says Orlando fire fighters brought him back from the brink of death last month after he collapsed during a quick stop at a store. Afterward, the Orlando Fire Department rushed Christopher to the hospital in a city ambulance that's now on the chopping block. Mayor Buddy Dyer's plan to lay off 46 fire fighters to help plug a $41.5 million deficit has gotten a lot of attention. But another provision of the cost-cutting plan has generated little discussion: the elimination of eight ambulances that transport Orlando's most critical patients. "I'm frightened for the elderly in this community who will not be taken to the hospital in a timely fashion," Christopher said.

Firefighters OK contract with furlough days
Tulsa World (07/11/09)
Tulsa fire fighters agreed to a contract that includes eight furlough days, preserving their ranks and joining police officers and other city workers in feeling the pinch of a tight city budget. Members of Tulsa Firefighters Local 176 approved a new contract, 328-176. Local 176 President Stan May said most of the no votes had to do with proposed reorganization of the department and other contract issues. “Had it been concerning the furloughs only, it would have passed by 95 percent,” May said. “The fire fighters had no problem with that. They recognized the situation the city is in and what they had to do.” If the contract had not been approved, the department would have lost roughly 42 of its 685 fire fighters. When the city and the police and fire unions announced that contract negotiations had been successfully concluded, Fire Chief Allen LaCroix said the furloughs would be carried out carefully to maintain required staffing levels but to prevent overtime.

Burbank Fire Department trims number of on-duty firefighters by two
Burbank Leader (07/10/09)
The Burbank Fire Department will trim the number of on-duty fire fighters by two as part of the cost-cutting measures passed by the City Council in June, officials said. The move is a result of the $1.27 million budget cut the fire department sustained as part of this fiscal year’s spending plan, and will allow officials to reinstate Engine 14, which was taken out of operation July 1 for at least six months to save $563,828, acting Chief Ray Krakowski said. The net effect of the cut — one of several made to reach the department’s 5% target — brings the minimum staffing level down to 36 from 38 last year.

Judge declines to reinstate Muncie firefighters
Star-Press (07/09/09)
Delaware Circuit Court 2 Judge Richard Dailey declined to put laid off Muncie fire fighters back to work, but did give them their day in court. Muncie Firefighters Local 1348 received a split decision when Dailey denied their motion for a preliminary injunction but said he would allow their case challenging city layoffs to go to trial.
Dailey found the decision to lay off 32 fire fighters was one to be made by government — and specially Mayor Sharon McShurley — and not one made by the court. And despite the harm to fire fighters, who will lose income and benefits, and possibly to the public with fewer fire fighters, Daley found the union’s evidence was speculative and did not meet major elements of proving irreparable harm or the likelihood that their case would succeed on its merits.

Police and firefighters' pay cuts will save Arlington $100,000
Everett (WA) Herald (07/09/09)
Police and fire personnel have joined the rest of the city's employees in taking pay cuts to help Arlington through lean times. By agreeing to trim holiday pay for the rest of the year, police officers and fire fighters will save the city more than $100,000. Arlington's sales tax revenue, which accounts for most of the income for the city's general fund, is still about 16 percent below last year. The Arlington City Council recently amended the employment contracts of department directors to include four unpaid holidays and eight unpaid furlough days -- the same schedule for city staff members. Employees are taking the unpaid time off in order to keep staffing and city services at current levels.

Firefighter cutbacks raise questions
Polaskinews (07/07/09)
Maumelle’s firefighter’s union says the city’s lack of fire fighters is endangering the fire fighters themselves and Maumelle’s residents. City officials said that’s not the case and that the city has, and has had, plans in place to deal with extraordinary situations. The battle is over money and city officials said the problem should be solved by the end of the month, if not sooner. In fact, Chief George Glenn said that the city, fire department and representatives of the Maumelle Professional Firefighters Association had developed a plan to avert the crisis by maintaining four fire fighters on duty at all times. Glenn said money from other areas of the fire department’s budget would be used to work out the staffing issues. He said he couldn’t identify the other funds or amount of funding involved at this time.

City firefighters try to delay 20 layoffs
Mansfield News Journal (07/07/09)
The city fire department is seeking a temporary restraining order to block the layoff of 20 fire fighters. The International Association of Firefighters Local 266 filed a complaint, naming the City of Mansfield, Mayor Don Culliver and Service-Safety Director Ron Kreuter as defendants. Late last month, the city said the layoffs would take effect at 6:59 a.m. July 5. Fire fighters contend the layoffs would violate their contract. "He (Culliver) is breaking the law," union President Phil Dollish said. "It seems like he really doesn't care. Council is supposed to govern him, but they aren't."

Mayor proposes balanced budget that preserves firefighters, police, teachers
The Western Edition (07/01/09)
Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed a balanced budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year that focuses on solving the budget challenge by attracting new jobs and making smart infrastructure investments in order to put San Franciscans back to work. The budget preserves basic services, maintains police officers and fire fighters and taps the rainy day fund to prevent teacher layoffs and balance the city’s budget. Healthy San Francisco, the city’s first-of-its kind universal health care program, will continue to grow. The current economic crisis has severely impacted San Francisco, mostly through major reductions in hotel tax and sales tax revenue. As California struggles with its own budget crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also proposed cutting state money sent to cities and counties, including $175.2 million to San Francisco.

Firefighter layoffs put on hold for now
Lehigh News Star (07/01/09)
There'll be no layoffs, at least for the time being, among Lehigh Acres fire fighters. The board told the fire chief during a special meeting June 23 that layoffs should be suspended until the district has more information about ways it can raise money or benefit from federal funding. The question will be revisited July 14. Nine fire fighters and two other employees were scheduled to lose their jobs July 15. The district planned to lay off a total of 30 fire fighters in three phases by September 14 to cope with the effect of a 47 percent decline in taxable property values. The district could be $9 million in debt by 2011 if it doesn't take steps to control costs.

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