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.

Budget Cuts May Strike Plano Police, Fire Departments
NBC-Dallas Fort Worth (03/31/09)
The city of Plano is facing a $13.5 million budget shortfall for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and will be cutting 3 percent of its operation budget. That means cuts across the board including the city's police and fire departments. The Plano Police Department may have to cut $2.2 million from its budget. The department may cut programs that would not affect response time or the number of officers on the streets at any given time.
The department may also eliminate 10 vacant positions and freeze funding for the Alternate Career Ladder Program, which gives officers who acquire special skills and training incentives and pay raises. The Plano Fire Department is considering cutting more than a half million dollars. To avoid layoffs, the department is considering doing away with educational programs first, including the Clown Program, which educates children about fire safety in schools and the Citizen's Fire Academy. The department may also eliminate two of five vacant positions, and is considering taking one ambulance out of service. That ambulance is staffed by fire fighters working overtime shifts.

Alameda: City files lawsuit to stop ballot measure by firefighters
Mercury News (03/31/09)
Fire fighters say they will continue to gather signatures for a ballot measure that would require the department to have 27 fire fighters on duty at all times, despite city officials challenging their effort in court. The campaign to put the issue before voters follows the city kicking off "brown-outs" at fire stations as a way to avoid paying overtime when someone is sick, training or on vacation. Fire fighters maintain that allowing a drop in staffing puts the public at risk, which city officials deny. The city argues in the suit filed in Alameda County Superior Court that it would have to earmark up to $2.8 million annually for the fire department if the ballot measure passes. "It's a frivolous lawsuit," said Domenick Weaver, president of Alameda firefighters' Local 689. "We are trying to do what the mayor has asked us to do, which is let the community decide what level of service they want."

Howard firefighters agree to delay on pay raise
Baltimore Sun (03/29/09)
Howard County's fire fighters have tentatively agreed to delay for six months their scheduled 6 percent pay raises in each of the next two fiscal years, a bow to a recession that has public employees all over Maryland facing unpaid furloughs and even layoffs. Instead of getting a 6 percent increase July 1 in 2009, and another 6 percent increase in 2010, the 315 fire fighters will get their increases six months later. The move helps discourage potential perception that the raises are out of line with the times and with what other public employees are getting. They will also help conserve revenues for the fire department, which come from a dedicated fund supplied by homeowners who pay a separate fire property tax.

San Jose firefighters offer wage freeze amid budget woes
Mercury News (03/28/09)
San Jose fire fighters offered to forgo raises in the next budget year as a goodwill gesture to help the city save money as it faces a more than $61 million deficit and the likelihood of layoffs in some departments. The offer sent to city management and City Council members makes fire fighters the first San Jose employee union to offer a wage freeze to ease the city's current budget woes. "We're trying to help out as best we can," said Randy Sekany, president of San Jose Firefighters Local 230, which represents the city's nearly 750 fire fighters. "We recognize that there are challenges in the city. We wanted to partner up and show the best way we could that we're willing to shoulder the burden." Mayor Chuck Reed said he was "pleased" that fire fighters "responded to my call for our employees to suggest creative alternatives and solutions to avoid layoffs and service reductions."

Council backs $4 million in budget cuts
San Diego Union Tribune (03/26/09)
Oceanside residents can expect changes in city services and a drop in spending for public safety in the upcoming fiscal year, due to $4 million in budget cuts the City Council approved. For the first time in more than 25 years, property taxes have declined in Oceanside, and all other revenues – including sales and hotel taxes, developer fees and investment earnings – have stagnated because of the recession, city officials said. City Manager Peter Weiss said the cuts were necessary to plug a $4.2 million hole in the 2009-10 fiscal budget, which the council won't approve in its entirety until June. “As a result of the economic conditions, it is unlikely the city will see revenue increases . . . for the next few years,” Weiss said. The police department took the biggest hit, with $1 million in cuts, and will lose two officers, a dispatcher and a records clerk. The council approved $600,000 in cuts to the fire department, which will lose one captain. Fire academy training will be halted for two years, and funding will be eliminated for the department's SWAT unit.

Franklin trims budget by $3.1M
The Tennessean (03/26/09)
A leaner Franklin operation starts after aldermen reduced the city's budget by an estimated $3.1 million. In the face of sagging sales tax revenues and grim predictions for the rest of this year, Mayor John Schroer and city aldermen voted 7-0 to trim Franklin's budget from $59 million to about $56 million. To get to that number, city officials will defer some projects and greater scrutinize city expenses such as fuel and vehicle use. The city also will leave vacant or cut a total of about 70 currently vacant city jobs, including 23 in the police department and one entry-level position in the fire department. Although the scaled-back budget will leave 10 police officer positions unfilled, officials insist city services won't suffer. "We can do everything we need to do for that amount," Schroer said. "We're not cutting services. . . . We're providing ample security, ample safety.

Fire Department can't afford cuts
Baltimore Sun (03/26/09)
The Baltimore Sun's article "Dixon would cut city jobs, services" (March 19) glossed over the fact that in addition to closing two fire companies, Mayor Sheila Dixon's budget cuts would also lead to daily closures of fire companies. These "rotational closings," along with the permanent closures, are a direct result of the city's unwillingness to properly staff and fund the fire department. This will put the citizens of Baltimore at a greater risk. The city cannot close a fire company and expect the response time to the incident to be the same. Increased response times allow a fire to gain in strength and produce deadly toxins.

Bremerton City Council Hears Plan to Avoid Layoffs
Kitsap Sun (03/25/09)
The Bremerton City Council will decide next week how to compensate for declining revenues that have created a $3.9 million budget shortfall. Andy Parks, Bremerton’s director of financial services, presented the council with a plan to transfer money from an equipment replacement and reserve fund and to reduce spending. Departments would be asked to tighten spending on supplies and eliminate some services. Employees also would be asked to make sacrifices. “We will downsize our workforce, I just don’t see any other way,” Mayor Cary Bozeman told the council. “Some services will be cut altogether. This is the most difficult place I’ve been in my 30-year political career.” City employees would have the option of working only 36 hours a week, taking eight furlough days or foregoing pension payments. Some longtime employees have been given incentives to take early retirement. The city hopes six people take the offer, Parks said. The offer ends March 31 and it is unclear if, or when, it might be offered again. Non-union managers at the city already have agreed to concessions to save jobs. Bozeman agreed not to take a 5 percent raise (his annual salary is about $117,000) and will forego pension payments. Unions representing city employees, including the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Teamsters, have agreed in principal to the city’s request, according to Parks. Union representatives are expected to work with the city on specifics before asking members for a vote. A decision could be made within the next two weeks.

Fire, police hardest hit by city cuts
Today's News-Herald (03/25/09)
Lake Havasu City’s budget woes for the current and upcoming fiscal year came to a head, as the City Council approved a citywide reduction in workforce. In all, 52 city employees received their pink slips with the council’s decision to approve City Manager Richard Kaffenberger’s reduction in workforce. Twenty full-time employees were laid off in various departments, including three in the development services division, six public works vehicle maintenance and administration workers, two police officers, three fire fighters and three finance department employees. Even more positions have been lost to attrition, 21 overall, including three in each of the following: transit, development services, fire and police. Kaffenberger had said he would ask employees eligible for retirement to consider doing so in order to save other jobs. Eleven city employees will now retire in the upcoming fiscal year. Six of those employees are fire fighters, and two are police officers.

Toledo weighs deep cuts in safety forces
Toledo Blade (03/25/09)
Toledo's financial administrators say this year's budget deficit is so deep the city has little choice but to consider significant layoffs of police officers, fire fighters and refuse collectors. The latest projections anticipate a $27.7 million deficit for 2009, with the "rainy day" fund completely wiped out after last year's red ink, said John Bibish, commissioner of Toledo's budget office, during a presentation on the situation to City Council's committee of the whole. "What we've got is a $27.7 million problem," he said. "We've got to come up with this much money in 2009." Bibish suggested politically sensitive cuts to Toledo's police and fire fighting squads are all but inevitable if the budget is to be balanced. Even if the city were to eliminate from its budget all jobs outside the police, fire, and refuse crews, that would whittle just $10 million from the projected deficit.

Danvers seeks union wage freezes to prevent layoffs
Salem News (03/25/09)
The town will ask its unions to accept a salary freeze to avert up to 25 layoffs as officials look for ways to close a $900,000 budget gap. "As we sit now, we have increases in the salaries that we are contractually obligated" to pay, Town Manager Wayne Marquis said. "Something has to give." The crunch is due to a plunge in state aid and the loss of other sources of cash, Marquis said. Cutting 20 to 25 jobs would close the funding gap. "We will be having conversations with our employees to see how they could reduce that number," Marquis said. He would not term what the town might be looking for as "concessions." He said the town has already contacted union representatives, but no formal negotiations have begun. If the town goes ahead with cuts, about 10 to 12 jobs would come from the schools, including teachers, administrators and others, and the rest would come from police, fire, the Department of Public Works, the library or other areas of town government.

Firefighters union tenatively agrees to help city with deficit
Duluth News Tribune (03/25/09)
In response to a call by Mayor Don Ness for city unions to help stem Duluth’s $6.5 million 2009 deficit by agreeing to $550,000 in concessions, the Duluth firefighters' union will offer up its share, its president said.
“We’ve got a tentative agreement,” union president Erik Simonson told the News Tribune on Tuesday. “It goes to members for a vote next week.” The proposal is to reduce overtime spending by $100,000 this year, Simonson said. “We won’t be able to eliminate all overtime,” he said, but the move would save enough to help get the city through 2009.

Reno firefighters OK wage concessions
Reno Gazette-Journal (03/25/09)
The Reno City Council has accepted 2.1 percent salary or benefit reductions offered by six employee unions, providing $1.2 million to help balance the current city budget, leaving only police lieutenants and sergeants that still have to vote. Votes of 350 members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 731 were counted after the 30-day election period ended. “It wasn’t even close,” union president Brad Johnson said. If the fire fighters had not reached an agreement, the city was prepared to lay off 12 fire fighters. The union offered $532,000 in savings while its share of required cuts totaled $353,000. The union relinquished uniform and uniform cleaning allowances, dropped a floating holiday and other elements of holiday pay.

Two Modesto unions OK contract changes to reduce layoff risk
Modesto Bee (03/25/09)
A drive to trim Modesto's $2 million budget shortfall has fire fighters and blue-collar workers taking furlough days to minimize layoffs in their ranks. The City Council approved contract adjustments to two unions — the Modesto City Firefighters Association and the Modesto City Employees Associations — establishing an early retirement program and requiring employees to stay home without pay for four workdays by June 30. The council vote was 7-0. The two unions join about 50 executives, attorneys and other managers who face the same requirements and have the option to participate in the same buyout program. The buyout option offers employees up to $30,000 based on how long they have worked for the city if they agree to retire by June 30. It's accompanied by a severance package that likely would pay them less.

Santa Rosa firefighters, police give up raises to avoid layoffs
The Press Democrat (03/24/09)
Leaders of cash-strapped Santa Rosa gave police officers and fire fighters a standing ovation after their unions agreed to forgo pay raises totaling more than $4 million over the next two years. “My faith has been restored. You came through,” Mayor Susan Gorin said as she and other City Council members rose in unison to show their appreciation as the concessions were announced. In exchange, council members agreed to drop proposed layoffs of 26 police officers, six fire fighters and three police technicians pending approval of the tentative agreements by the public safety unions. The 130-member Santa Rosa Fire Fighters Association, which saved the city $550,000 by deferring a 2 percent raise last year, also agreed to give up almost 5 percent of an expected 8 percent pay raise in 2010. That would result in an annual savings of about $500,000. In exchange for the fire fighters’ concessions, the council agreed not to close a second fire station on a daily rotating basis, which would have saved $1.2 million, and not to cut six firefighter jobs, which would have saved $450,000. The fire fighters will receive the 2 percent raise they deferred last year and a likely 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, both starting July 1.

Kent city employees pitch in to save co-workers' jobs
KING 5 (03/24/09)
Employees in the City of Kent have agreed to pitch in to help save their co-workers' jobs. Mayor Suzette Cook says the employees have voted to take reductions in their compensation in an effort to bridge a portion of a forecasted $4 million shortfall. "John Hodgson, our Chief Administrative Officer, and I have made a concerted effort to keep employees up to speed on the City's changing financial situation," said Cooke. "It was after one of our updates that all of the City's department directors volunteered to give up their annual cost of living increase. What followed was spectacular." The Teamsters and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees) Unions voted to take five and six furlough days respectively through the end of the year. The fire and police unions will also give up a deferred compensation contribution. And non-represented staff voted to take five furlough days. The move will save $1.3 million and avoid as many as 20 layoffs.

Layoffs looming for Northampton
The Republican (03/24/09)
Twelve police officers, 14 fire fighters and nine workers in the Department of Public Works may join the 55 School Department employees slated for layoffs under the "worst-case scenario" budget outlined by Mayor Mary Clare Higgins for the fiscal year of 2010. City officials said they are trying to mitigate the damage, but the cuts may affect basic services. They said police and fire fighters will be hard put to respond quickly to emergencies because their numbers will be reduced. Higgins has asked departments to cut their budgets by 12 percent in light of the general economic crisis that has resulted in a decrease in state aid. Fire Chief Brian Duggan called the scenario the worst he's faced in his career. The cuts he will be forced to make will probably result in the partial closing of the Florence substation and could affect his department's ability to provide emergency medical care. The fire department currently operates an ambulance throughout the week and has two more available on weekends. There might not be enough fire fighters to staff them because of the cuts, Duggan said. Duggan said he expects to lay off nine fire fighters. Five more cuts will come from open positions and a resignation.
"We'll do everything we can to maintain the level of service," Duggan said, but added that that the magnitude of the reductions will cause a substantial decrease in those services.

Firefighters agree to postpone pay raise
Anchorage Daily News (03/24/09)
Anchorage fire fighters have agreed to give up a pay raise this year to help the city get past a financial deficit, the union's president and the mayor's office said. Acting Mayor Matt Claman and Captain Tom Wescott, president of the firefighters' union, announced the potential give-back a couple of weeks ago. Wescott said union members have voted to approve the concession. "It didn't sail through," Wescott said. "Anytime you try to reduce somebody's paycheck, there's obviously going to be some opposition to that. But in the end, a majority thought this was the right thing to do to help the city out." The Anchorage Assembly still must approve the new agreement. Such wage concessions are unusual but not unprecedented for city employees. In 2003 and 2004, fire fighters and members of several other bargaining groups agreed to wage freezes to help then-Mayor Mark Begich close a $33 million deficit. In return the employees got wage increases in future years.

Cuts limit options
Port Huron Times Herald (03/22/09)
When the Port Huron Fire Department arrives at the scene of a fire, "organized chaos" ensues, said Aron Bulman, president of the Port Huron Professional Fire Fighters Union Local 354. Fire fighters survey the home, position engines, stretch hoses and ventilate and evacuate the burning structure. Budget cuts have forced the department to do all of this with fewer people in recent years. Fire fighters said this has made their jobs riskier and puts the people they serve at risk. Fire Chief Bob Eick said the department's budget shrank from $5.3 million in fiscal year 2005-06 to $5.1 million in 2008-09 because of the city's financial problems. The department has cut 11 fire fighter positions, including deputy fire chief, since 2004 by offering retirement packages. The fire department has 44 employees, including Eick. In 2007, staff was redistributed among the department's three stations based on the frequency of area fires.

Finch thanks unions for givebacks
Connecticut Post (03/20/09)
Mayor Bill Finch took the unusual step of thanking city unions for agreeing to give back millions of dollars to help close a projected $20 million budget deficit for 2008-09. "It's our intent to make sure the public understands that it's their sacrifice and hard work that's going to balance the budget," Finch said during a brief event at the fire department's headquarters. As the mayor spoke, a dozen or so union leaders surrounded him. They didn't offer public comments, but most seemed to appreciate his sentiment. For most of the workers, helping Finch meant forgoing raises this year and next year, and taking week-long or 10-day furloughs without taking any pay this year. Most of the unions will collect raises in the third and fourth years of newly negotiated contracts. Some unions still suffered layoffs as the mayor cut 73 workers and eliminated or refused to fill another 149 positions. The union concessions saved $4.9 million. Other employee savings are being applied to the deficit as well, including $1.4 million from trimming department budgets, $1.1 million by deferring fire fighter holidays and $824,000 from supervisor concessions. Robert Whitbread, president of the firefighters' union, said his members realized the city is suffering and were willing to help out. Fire fighters agreed to bank holiday weeks and personal days for the next year in exchange for a guarantee that no one would be laid off. Those weeks can be reclaimed when they retire.

Cut salaries soon or face layoffs, Williams warns unions in letter
Youngstown Vindicator (03/20/09)
In a letter to most unionized city employees, Mayor Jay Williams wrote that labor group leaders need to immediately contact the law director to discuss his proposal to cut salaries by 10 percent to avoid layoffs. “Failure to act timely in achieving necessary savings will unfortunately leave little other choice than to implement a reduction in personnel, an undesirable outcome that no one wishes to occur.” The letter was sent to members of six unions that are paid through the city’s general fund, which is facing a projected $3.39 million deficit this year. One union paid with general fund money noticeably absent from the letter is the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents about 140 in the fire department. That’s because the firefighters' union agreed to an early-retirement program last year that saves the city about $1.5 million over a two-year period, 2009 and 2010.

Without union concessions, Nutter asserts, layoffs will come
Philadelphia Daily News (03/20/09)
Mayor Nutter threw down the gauntlet to unionized city workers, declaring in his budget address that if he doesn't get contract concessions, there will be layoffs. Nutter's $3.8 billion proposed budget and five-year financial plan spell out the city's position on the four municipal union contracts, which expire June 30. The city wants health care cost cuts, no raises, work-rule changes and a reduced-benefit pension plan for new hires.
Negotiations with the city's blue-collar and white-collar workers have not started, although the city has made initial contract offers to the police and fire fighters unions, which will be resolved in binding arbitration.

Layoffs Loom
The Jersey Journal (03/20/09)
More layoffs are looming for Hoboken -- and this time they'll be in the police and fire departments. Hoboken's fiscal monitor Judy Tripodi filed a layoff plan with the state Department of Personnel that includes "a reduction in force of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel and demotions in public safety." Tripodi declined to say exactly how many city workers -- including police officers and fire fighters -- would be let go or the exact amount of savings she expected. "We will be laying off the most nonessential, repetitive or duplicate positions anywhere," Tripodi said. "This is to create savings for the 2010 budget." The budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30 is $123.8 million and Tripodi is bent on having next fiscal year's budget even lower. News of the layoffs, and that fire fighters and police officers could be included, apparently took several officials by surprise.

Fire Dept. shakeup for savings
The Jersey Journal (03/20/09)
To pare costs, Bayonne officials have announced plans to change the table of organization of the fire department. The big changes reduce the number of captains from 42 to 11, eliminate one of four current deputy fire chief slots and reinstate the rank of lieutenant. The proposed changes -- which would save the city an estimated $350,000 annually -- are part of Mayor Mark Smith's effort to trim the fire department's $15.5 million budget by $2 million, in the face of the city's $33 million deficit. The new table of organization would allow for one fire chief, up to three deputy chiefs, no more than five battalion chiefs, up to 11 captains, 29 lieutenants and up to 140 fire fighters. Cresci told the council the change in the table of organization would avoid layoffs in the department and that the city is considering a similar plan for the police department.

Dixon proposes layoffs, city services cuts
Baltimore Sun (03/19/09)
Mayor Sheila Dixon proposed the deepest cuts in city services in at least a decade, saying the national recession will force her to lay off as many as 153 workers, close recreation centers and swimming pools and reduce library hours. Dixon said she decided on many of the cuts for the spending plan that takes effect July 1 after "looking at our departments and looking at what works and what is not necessarily working." One of the hardest-hit city agencies is the fire department, which would absorb a $3 million cut and plans to close one truck company and one engine company. No firehouses would close permanently, but houses would close on a rotating basis to reduce spending on overtime. "It was tough," said Fire Chief Jim Clack, who added he will seek some stimulus funding to offset the cuts. "I don't want to close any companies. I'd like to have more." Fire union officials cried foul, saying it is unwise to cut a truck with a 110-foot ladder in the city's downtown. "That ladder is critical if you have a fire in a high-rise," said Bob Sledgeski, head of the firefighters' union. About the rotating closures, he said: "I would advise everyone to make sure their emergency fire plans are up to date because we never know whether or not we will be open."

Firefighters, city reach tentative deal on $1.5M in cuts
Denver Post (03/17/09)
The union representing Denver fire fighters has reached a tentative agreement with Mayor John Hickenlooper's administration on cuts to pay and benefits expected to save the city $1.5 million. The package, which must still be ratified by union members, would reduce the negotiated contract by 2 percent. The city also agreed to study whether it could save money by having the fire department handle more dispatching duties. "It's a win-win deal for everyone," said Eric Tade, the governmental affairs director for the union. "Services don't get cut for citizens. Fire fighters get to keep their jobs, and the administration doesn't have to make layoffs." Hickenlooper asked the three unions representing safety workers — police, fire and sheriff employees — to take a 2 percent cut to their negotiated contracts this year. The mayor's request to the unions was part of a plan to close a projected $56 million budget deficit that has the potential to grow even larger. The union representing sheriff's deputies refused to accept the cuts, and the mayor last week fired 11 deputies to achieve the targeted savings.

Firefighters accept wage freeze
Torrington Register Citizen (03/17/09)
A newly introduced firefighters' union contract that would freeze wage increases and eliminate pensions for new hires was unanimously approved, garnering heavy praise from City Council. Mayor Ryan Bingham introduced the contract as a product of sound negotiations between local Firefighters Union 1557. The city and the union had a temporary agreement since last summer when changes were worked on between the language of the contract. Due to the dip in the economy, however, certain language was revised and the union agreed to taking a more “pro-city” approach to the agreement, Bingham said. Victor Muschell, an city attorney who conducted the negotiations, said he considered the agreement “very unusual,” lauding a sense of cooperation between the city and the fire fighters. The agreement states a zero percent wage increase for the upcoming year, starting July 1, and a plan that replace pensions for new hires with a contribution plan.

Firefighters get burned by cost-cutting plan
Folsom Telegraph (03/17/09)
Tightening of the fiscal belt in Folsom is forcing the fire department to essentially shut down one of its engines — and some fear that could put the public’s safety in jeopardy. Engine 35 will be placed on “brownout” status in the hopes of saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chief Dan Haverty, of the Folsom Fire Department, said something in the city had to give. He assures residents they will have competent and complete emergency service coverage, but response times will increase slightly. “We aren’t closing it 100 percent, but response time will still be impacted,” Haverty said.

Could Budget Problems Affect Response Times From Firefighters
KTVN Reno (03/17/09)
Budget problems are affecting nearly every agency in the state, and the Sparks Fire Department is no exception. In fact, a recent fire at a motel put the department to the test. City officials project a $6.5 million revenue shortfall this fiscal year, and that's got fire fighters handling calls a little differently. "Fires don't change their behavior and medical emergencies don't change their behaviors based on budgets," says Division Chief Frank Frievalt of the Sparks Fire Department.

Milford firefighters OK wage freeze
Connecticut Post (03/17/09)
The firefighters' union became the first of eight city bargaining units to accept a wage freeze in exchange for protection from layoffs. David Heenan Jr., treasurer of the Milford Professional Firefighters Local 944, announced members had ratified a new two-year contract with the city that includes no raise for the first year, beginning on July 1. City officials said members of the firefighters' union agreed to accept a 2 percent raise for 2010-11. "Our membership has decided that this wage freeze was the proper response for Local 944 at this time,'' Heenan said. The city has reached tentative agreements with two other unions that would freeze wages in the first year of a two-year contract, Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said. "No union has said no to us, and we expect that we will be able to reach agreements with all of them. We have an economic anomaly, and we've asked our unions in informal discussions to be part of the solution.''

JC firefighters offer to give up 3% of salary
Press & Sun-Bulletin (03/16/09)
Johnson City fire fighters have offered to give up 3 percent of their raises for the upcoming fiscal year to save the job of the lowest ranking fire fighter. At a meeting earlier this month, Johnson City Trustee Dennis Hannon introduced a broadly worded motion that would have potentially eliminated the lowest-tier fire fighter from the department. "We've sent a letter to village stating our intentions," said Union President Martin Meaney. "It's part of our brotherhood to protect his job, but that also has an impact on the safety of the residents because that's one less fire fighter that the village would be without." Meaney said the pay raises equate to approximately $100,000. The department has 39 fire fighters.

Mayor, unions agree to scale back pension plan
Baltimore Sun (03/16/09)
Three Baltimore public safety unions have reached an agreement with the Dixon administration to scale back lucrative retirement payouts for police officers and fire fighters who work longer than 20 years. The compromise, fueled in part by the down economy, would save the city an estimated $4 million to $7 million yearly while preserving elements of a popular pension selection known as the deferred retirement option plan, or DROP. Under the plan, public safety officials receive a large lump-sum payment if they continue working past their traditional retirement date.

Mayor will take 10% pay cut
Youngstown Vindicator (03/14/09)
Youngstown’s mayor says concessions are needed from most city workers to avert layoffs. He also plans to take a 10 percent reduction in his salary. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams is asking most city employees to work four fewer hours a week, which would cut their wages 10 percent, to avoid layoffs. Facing a $3.39 million deficit, the city administration is looking to make cuts. But with 80 percent of the general fund’s cost going toward the salaries and benefits of its 850 workers, the biggest cut has to come from there, Williams said. Without a salary concession, layoffs are inevitable, Williams said. Even with the concession, there’s no guarantee that some jobs will not be cut, he said. The administration has repeatedly praised the firefighters' union for agreeing to an early-retirement program last year that saves the city about $1.5 million over a two-year period, 2008 and 2009. Also, the city finalized a three-year contract with the union that represents about 140 in the fire department. The deal calls for a 3-percent wage increase in its first year. It also includes a provision to have the union and the administration reopen wage-increase negotiations in August.

City workers start getting pink slips
Mansfield News Journal (03/14/09)
More than 50 city employees will receive layoff notices in the coming days as Mansfield's first wave of job cuts takes effect. Department heads under Mayor Don Culliver's control were told some employees could be laid off as soon as they receive letters. "Unfortunately, when all is said and done, we will probably have 95 to 100 fewer employees manning city services than we did at the beginning of 2009," Human Resources Director Don Bartlett said. "We are trying to mitigate the final number of reductions. We will eventually do (so) by counting terminations and retirements in 2009 as part of our final number." Four police officers, four fire fighters and 11 employees not represented by any bargaining group are slated to receive letters, Bartlett said. Another 37 city workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees also will receive layoff notices.

Firefighters' Union Concerned over Safety
Alameda Sun (03/13/09)
The implementation of "brownouts" or fire company closures is the latest example of mismanagement in city of Alameda policy. It is the culmination of years of neglect to a cornerstone department, and the result of hiring fire chiefs from outside the department who are unable to assimilate to life — and politics — on the Island. In the last 10 years there have been five men who have worn the badge of fire chief. The fire fighters have welcomed each of them with open arms. We have attempted to collaborate on issues and be part of a solution, to create a plan for the future, only to be told some ambiguous excuse as to why there was no follow-through or support. Due to an absence of authority within the department leadership, and a lack of support for required training, specialized programs and a clear vision for the future, the Alameda Fire Department is comparable to a sinking ship and all lifeboats are filling fast.

Leggett Budget Would Cut Jobs
Washington Post (03/13/09)
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett plans to propose a budget that eliminates hundreds of government jobs and gives no cost-of-living pay raises to public employees. Some county buses would run less frequently under the proposal, and residents would probably confront longer lines to check out library books and to receive some health services. Leggett (D) said the budget blueprint, which must be voted on by the County Council this spring, protects spending for police and emergency services and does not raise property tax revenue above the county's charter limit, which ties increases to the rate of inflation.

Police, fire fear job cuts
Denver Post (03/12/09)
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's decision to lay off 11 sheriff's deputies could be a prelude to similar cuts for police officers and fire fighters if they don't accept pay and benefit cuts. While the mayor has never publicly mentioned laying off police officers or fire fighters, union officials fear job losses could occur if an agreement on other cuts isn't reached soon. Hickenlooper's top aides couldn't persuade the union representing sheriff's deputies to accept a 2 percent cut to pay and benefits to help close a projected $56 million budget gap. After the union rejected the request, the mayor announced the layoffs for deputies and required remaining deputies, sergeants and captains to take three furlough days this year. The moves will save the city $1.2 million this year, the same amount in contract concessions the mayor was seeking.

Leaders take 1% cut, look for union match
Andover Townsman (03/12/09)
After volunteering to take a 1 percent pay cut in fiscal year 2010, Andover's nine town department heads met with union leaders March 10, encouraging town employees to do the same. "By and large, the unions understand what's going on out there in the economy, and in people's lives. They understand they need to be part of the solution," said Assistant Town Manager Steven Bucuzzo. "No one wants to lose money, no one wants to do these types of things. But the point is that we're doing it to try and save positions in the town, avoiding layoffs of the people we work with." The town's operating budget currently has a $874,000 deficit projected for next year, FY2010; the 1 percent cut from the nine department heads totals $11,372. The pay cut is a verbal agreement, but will be formalized in writing soon, said Bucuzzo. "They stepped right up, on voluntary basis. They're leaders every day, but they're leaders when push comes to shove and we have to solve this budget personnel problem," said Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski. "It's a multifaceted problem, and requires a multifaceted solution ... As I'm designing our recovery program, we need to have less employees going into the future than we have now, on both the school and town side."

Brooklyn City Council makes more budget cuts, will investigate possible mandatory furloughs
The Plain Dealer (03/12/09)
Employee attendance bonuses, police park patrols and part-time workers in the tax and building departments were all targets of the latest round of budget cuts announced by Acting Mayor Rich Balbier. The moves bring city leaders closer to their goal of trimming more than $1.5 million from the budget, but are far from the end of the line, Balbier said. The next step could be negotiating mandatory weeklong furloughs or across-the-board percentage pay cuts for all employees, sources said. Balbier said the city would continue to make cuts while campaigning for the passage of a 0.5 percent income tax increase that will appear on the May 5 ballot.

Layoffs hit Lake Havasu City Fire Department
Boston Herald (03/12/09)
The latest round of municipal layoffs in Lake Havasu City has hit the fire department and more could be coming.
One fire department staffer has been placed on paid administrative leave before a possible layoff. Fire Chief Dennis Mueller says members of the firefighters' union and labor management officials will meet to discuss the possibility of more layoffs. This could include the loss of 6 additional employees to attrition.

Elyria firefighters go to bat for co-workers; layoffs doused
WKYC (03/12/09)
The economy is forcing layoffs in almost every business, but in Elyria, cutting 10 fire fighters would jeopardize citizen safety, the well-being of the remaining members on the fire department and bring the closing of three of the four stations operating in the city. With the city's purse strings tight, Elyria fire fighters have come up with their own way to extinguish the flames of this financial threat. Senior members of the department intend to take voluntary cuts in clothing allowances, hazard pay and overtime to keep 10 "younger" fire fighters on the job. "We need them as much as they need us. It's something we're willing to do. It's a brotherhood," Union President Dean Marks said.

Denver lays off 11 sheriff's deputies
TomRiver Times (03/11/09)
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's administration has laid off 11 sheriff's deputies to close a mushrooming budget gap caused by the economic downturn and required other sheriff's employees to take three furlough days this year. The layoffs occurred after the union that represents the deputies rejected the administration's request that it accept a 2 percent cut in salaries and benefits. The furloughs are required of deputies, captains and sergeants. The layoffs and furloughs will save the city $1.2 million. Brough said the administration continues to negotiate with the unions that represent police officer and fire fighters and hopes those unions will accept 2 percent in salary and benefit cuts.

$12 million deficit means more cuts for Vallejo
San Francisco Chronicle (03/10/09)
Vallejo, already mired in bankruptcy, is considering slashing city salaries and services by 20 percent to make up for an unexpected $12 million budget deficit. The City Council will discuss cutback scenarios for the next fiscal year, hunting for ways to compensate for drastic declines in property tax, sales tax and building fees. The city is also saddled with a $2 million legal bill for its bankruptcy case, which is certain to grow over the next few months as proceedings continue. The general fund is expected to fall to $71 million, down from $83 million last year. "It's painful. We're going well below our ability to provide essential services," said City Councilwoman Stephanie Gomes. "We have nothing left to cut." The city staff is recommending the council eliminate 30 sworn police positions, from a current staff of 115, and close two fire stations.

Orlando plans spending cuts
WDBO Radio (03/10/09)
Mayor Buddy Dyer refused in his state of the city address last month to hike taxes, but suggested increasing costs, especially for health coverage, might drive the budget up next fiscal year. "Our city will have to make the same hard choices that our families do." Now the city's Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sutton has told department heads how much to trim spending. "We would like to have a 12 percent reduction plan proposed in at least five to six weeks time." Sutton says the city is working with unions on the possibility of wage freezes and even job cuts. Those unions represent fire fighters, police, laborers and office workers.

Local aid cuts leave town in pinch
Providence Eyewitness News (03/10/09)
Another town is feeling the pinch of the financial crisis. Johnston is operating on a balanced budget but the town is forced to find ways to save money because of the proposed cuts in local aid. Johnston's state funding was cut by millions of dollars this fiscal year and now the city is exploring ways to make up the loss. But raising taxes, the mayor says, isn't an option. Members of the firefighters' union met for a second time to decide what kinds of concessions to make this late in the year. "I try to say to them, keep in mind, there are people that are out of work that are paying your salaries. They understand that time's are tough,” says Mayor Joseph Polisena. In an effort to balance the state's budget deficit, Governor Donald Carcieri cut Johnston's aid by $3.5 million this fiscal year. Now, after balancing the town's budget the mayor is back to crunching numbers. "It's grossly unfair. If he said to us, next year you're going to lose $3.5 million, then we can prepare for that," says Mayor Polisena. Layoffs and furloughs are all on the table and every municipal department could be affected. No decision has been made, but the mayor promises one thing: no new taxes.

Take a buyout or be laid off
Modesto Bee (03/09/09)
Modesto City Manager Greg Nyhoff will take steps to trim the city's 1,239-person work force with a buyout and severance package for non-union executives, attorneys and high-ranking public safety officers. About 50 people work in those classifications. City executives and union leaders are negotiating similar terms for all of Modesto's bargaining units. All together, the city anticipates it will lose more than 100 employees to layoffs and early retirements. Modesto must shave $2 million from its budget this spring to balance the books for the current fiscal year. It faces another $10 million drop in revenue for the budget year that begins July 1, forcing even more cuts.

Police, fire departments reeling from layoffs
NECN (03/09/09)
As cities and towns around New England deal with funding cuts, police and fire departments are reeling from layoffs. Two examples are on the south coast of Massachusetts, in Fall River and New Bedford. New Bedford's cut is $2.8 million. Confronted with the tough decision a few weeks ago to cut pay or people, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang says the police and fire unions chose to cut police officers and fire fighters. To New Bedford Police Chief Ron Teachman, it's a shame to lose young officers -- the ones who are the first to go because of their lack of seniority. Chief Teachman says about 15 of those officers are bilingual. With 31 layoffs, about 11 percent of officers, he restructured the force, and is concerned what impact fewer patrols could have on the city. Fire union President Mike Coogan says there will be fewer fire fighters to respond to emergencies.

All city workers asked to take day off without pay
Eagle Tribune (03/08/09)
Furloughs for everyone. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini originally planned to order only non-emergency city employees to take a day off without pay to save $20,013 and help the city bridge a budget shortfall. Now he intends to ask police officers and fire fighters to take the furlough too, for an additional savings of $36,343. "The more I thought about it, everyone has to take the same furlough," Fiorentini said. "I'm asking every union in the city, including the schools and public safety unions, to make a similar sacrifice to preserve services for our citizens and prevent more layoffs in June." The city recently made $2.5 million in cuts to fill the budget hole, which was caused primarily by state aid reductions. But another budget deficit of at least $1 million, not including any potential shortfall at the School Department, is projected this summer, the mayor said. Rounding out the list of departments newly tapped for furloughs are water and sewer, engineering and public health nurses, for a savings of $15,299. They are listed as emergency departments because they often deal with public health issues. Adding police and fire fighters and those other emergency departments would save $51,643 on top of the nonemergency worker furloughs, for a potential total savings from municipal furloughs of $71,655.

Feeling downturn's pinch, Northeast Ohio cities cut jobs, services
The Plain Dealer (03/08/09)
Attrition was supposed to be enough. For years, Northeast Ohio cities have been paring their staffs through retirements and resignations to shrink personnel budgets and offset flat revenues. "We knew times were going to be tough," North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady said. "We needed to be a smaller, more efficient government." But that wasn't enough for some cities. At least nine Northeast Ohio cities -- from Elyria to Mentor -- have resorted to layoffs, even in safety forces, purging more than 95 people in the last six months. More cities are considering cuts. Nationwide, according to the National League of Cities, 69 percent of cities are freezing open positions or laying off employees.

Clifton Shuts Down Fire House To Save Money
WCBS-TV New York (03/07/09)
It was a sad morning in Clifton, New Jersey, as the doors of one firehouse closed forever. Engine Company 2 was shut down, laying off several of its fire fighters, as part of the city council's plan to save more than $4 million this year -- a plan that will see 60 city jobs cut. Fire fighter Jason Anzelmo showed his two-and-a-half year old daughter, Madison, Fire Station #2 for the last time. "We serve the public and we save lives," Anzelmo says. "I put my hand on the bible to do that." Anzelmo is one of 12 fire fighters being laid off, along with the closing of firehouse, to save Clifton $600,000. Last-minute negotiations saved five fire fighter jobs, but it's all based on seniority. "I never thought he would lose his job," Anzelmo's wife, Beverly, says. "I am shocked and scared to see where we go from here."

Joliet could slash up to 258 union jobs
Joliet Herald News (03/07/09)
The city has presented its unions with a worst-case scenario of 258 job cuts. But it's a scenario that isn't expected to become reality. "I don't think we could run the city if we cut that many jobs," Councilman Thomas Giarrante said. Layoffs are expected as the city grapples with a growing budget shortfall now pegged at about $10 million. But the scenarios laid out to the unions this week run from 65 to 258 job cuts depending on potential wage and benefit concessions. Just how many layoffs might actually occur is unclear. The city administration and unions have just begun talking about the issue, and no timetable has been set.
Union leaders have been reluctant to publicly discuss the issue until meeting with their members.

Mayor mandates furlough day
Denver Post (03/07/09)
Sales-tax revenue in Denver plunged by 8 percent in January compared with last year, forcing Mayor John Hickenlooper to require city employees to take an unpaid furlough day this month. The steep decline could end up forcing the administration to revise revenue projections downward again and force a new round of budget cuts. Already, the administration had projected stagnant sales-tax revenue for the year and had come up with a plan to close a projected $56 million budget gap for the year based on that scenario. Sales-tax revenue is a crucial indicator because it represents about half of the city's income. The city collected $2.5 million less in sales tax revenue this January than it did in January of last year. "The big question is whether we will end up being 8 to 10 percent down in sales-tax revenue every month for the rest of 2009," said Ed Scholz, the mayor's director of budget and management. "If that happens we're going to be way off the mark."

Safety last: Pawlenty’s proposed cuts would hit police and fire departments
Minnesota Independent (03/06/09)
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman stepped up to a podium at the state Capitol, joined by a phalanx of cops and fire fighters. The unmistakable message: Stop the cuts to public safety programs that Governor Tim Pawlenty’s budget proposes. While the press conference was typical Capitol stagecraft, it brought together some unusual bedfellows. The St. Paul Police Federation has hardly been among Coleman’s biggest fans. The union endorsed his opponent, then-incumbent Randy Kelly, four years ago and has frequently lambasted the mayor’s handling of police issues. As recently as last fall, the police federation was running radio spots attacking the mayor for failing to meet its wage demands on a new labor contract. But there was Dave Titus, president of the Police Federation, taking to the podium to echo the mayor’s warnings about looming local government aid (LGA) cutbacks. “Let’s make this very clear: LGA cuts will very much affect the safety of every officer, every fire fighter and every citizen in this state,” Titus said. “That’s what LGA is: It’s public safety — bottom line.”

Roseville to weigh event, job cuts to fight $5-million deficit
Detroit Free Press (03/06/09)
Roseville officials plan to consider cutting personnel and community events in order to help whittle down the city's projected $5-million deficit by spring. "Anything is a possibility at this point. I would have to say layoffs are a possibility," City Manager Steve Truman said. Noting that 70 percent of the city's budget goes to personnel costs, Truman said, "The bottom line is you have to reduce workforce." There are 280 full-time employees in Roseville, including police, fire and court. About 16 full-time positions have gone unfilled through attrition since 2006, he said.

Uniformed heroes earn wide praise for pay cuts
Columbus Dispatch (03/06/09)
Lancaster and Columbus fire fighters were the first city workers in their communities to step forward with wage concessions to save their jobs and help their mayors balance the municipal budgets. For that, they received applause from residents and praise from their mayors. Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said in his State of the City speech February 26 that he plans to nominate the fire fighters for a Profile in Courage Award, given annually by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation to elected officials and public servants who, the foundation says, "do what is right rather than what is expedient." Lancaster Mayor David S. Smith led a standing ovation for the city fire fighters in his State of the City speech February 11. The Lancaster fire fighters are scheduled to record an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show today via a video hookup from a city firehouse. Other cities with budget problems took note. Lancaster Fire Chief Steven Sells got a call from the Chillicothe fire chief in Ross County wanting to know how Lancaster made the deal. Firefighter unions in Toledo and Cincinnati, meanwhile, called Columbus fire fighter Jack Reall, president of Local 67 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, with questions. Fire fighters share a unique workplace -- eating and sleeping together in their firehouses on 24-hour shifts and working as a team fighting fires and responding to medical emergencies. That family feel contributed to the wage deals, some fire fighters said. "This is the brotherhood," said Lancaster fire fighter K.J. Watts, president of Local 291 of the firefighters' union.

Proposed Pr. George's Layoffs Would Slash Public Safety Staffing
WJLA (03/05/09)
Prince George's County leaders will propose to eliminate 320 jobs in a effort to close the county's $132 million budget deficit, and public safety workers are among the hardest hit, according to a secret document obtained by ABC 7/NewsChannel 8. The preliminary numbers are spread out across county services but include 122 jobs in the police department, 48 positions in the fire and EMS department, 37 in corrections and 20 in the sheriff's office. Union officials say all county residents, not just those who lose their jobs, will suffer. "If we have a reduction in workforce, crime is going to go up," observed Dean Jones of the Fraternal Order of Police.
"It's going to have an impact on service delivery and the way we currently provide protection to the citizens," added Doug Bartholomew, president of the county's Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association.

Plan to Cut Firefighters Delayed
My Fox Austin (03/05/09)
The Austin City Manager is delaying a plan to reduce the number of fire fighters on some trucks from four to three. The plan is part of the city's overall efforts to close a $20 million budget shortfall. Reducing fire fighter staffing from four to three is estimated to save the Austin Fire Department about $200,000 in overtime costs. The cuts are delayed to allow for more public input and the consideration of alternatives. The Austin firefighters' union held a press conference at City Hall calling on the city to find other cuts. Fire fighters say reduced staffing has a negative impact on their ability to put out fires and rescue potential victims.

Judge allows Woonsocket to lay off firefighters
MSNBC (03/05/09)
A judge’s ruling has cleared the way for a Rhode Island city to lay off fire fighters to close a big budget deficit. In the 29-page decision, Superior Court Judge Susan McGuirl ruled that Woonsocket’s financial emergency allows Mayor Susan Menard’s administration to lay off up to 11 union fire fighters and keep seven other positions vacant. The city must keep the fire fighting staff at no less than 114, besides the chief.

Firefighters seek to stop spending plan that doesn't fund full shifts
Gloucester Daily Times (03/05/09)
A tug-of-war between Gloucester fire fighters and the city over money for staffing and overtime has landed in court, with the fire fighters union accusing the city of not meeting the terms of its labor contract. At a hearing in Salem, the union will ask a Superior Court Judge to quash Gloucester's current budget and Mayor Carolyn Kirk's soon-to-be-filed fiscal 2010 budget on the grounds that they do not fund minimum staffing requirements agreed to in collective bargaining. Fire fighters union President Clint Carroll said that the suit, filed March 2, was necessary since Kirk has cut off talks with the union and is prepared to submit a budget without the money necessary to keep the city or fire fighters safe. "I want nothing more than to sit down and work this thing out," Carroll said. "I do not want to hold the city hostage." The complaint calls for an injunction against the city mandating that the mayor add enough money to this year's budget and next year's to keep at least 18 fire fighters on duty at all times.

How The Unions Can Help The City's Budget Deficit
KTVA CBS 11 News Alaska (03/04/09)
On the heels of citywide rolling blackouts that shut down fire stations, the firefighters union has offered to give back money to prevent future closures. And as officials continue to try to shave away at the city's budget deficit, fire fighters are hoping their actions will help. "We just feel it's something that we can do to better the situation and try to keep our members working and our fire stations open," said Mike Stumbaugh, of the Local 1264 Anchorage Firefighters Union. By giving back over four million dollars in wage concessions, the local firefighters union is hoping their proposal will help the city's budget while also keeping their stations open. "They (fire fighters) are offering concessions as product of our meet and confer, of over a million dollars for 2009, that's significant savings," said Acting Mayor Matt Claman.

Farmington Unions Agree To Pay Freeze
WFSB (03/04/09)
The town's eight municipal unions, three Board of Education unions and all non-union employees, managers and administrators have agreed to a one-year pay freeze. The teachers' union didn't agree to the wage concession.
The pay freeze was agreed to by the Farmington Municipal Union Coalition in order to help Farmington get through the economic downturn. It is a result of the unions agreeing to extend collective bargaining agreements for the upcoming fiscal year, rather than entering into negotiations for successor agreements that are due to expire on June 30. The contract extensions will result in no pay increases for members of the unions representing police officers, fire fighters, Department of Public Works employees, dispatchers, town hall employees and clerical staff.

Law director files suit to stop layoffs
The Chronicle-Telegram (03/03/09)
A lawsuit filed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court seeks a temporary restraining order that — if granted — will freeze the layoffs in the Elyria Fire Department until a management study can be completed. City Law Director Terry “Pete” Shilling filed the lawsuit on behalf of Dean Marks, president of the local fire union. The lawsuit names the city, Mayor Bill Grace and Safety Service Director Chris Eichenlaub as defendants. Marks, who lives in Elyria, went to Shilling asking that a lawsuit be filed on behalf of taxpayers because layoffs planned for later in the month in the department would cause “an immediate threat to the public safety of the people of Elyria and the property of the people of Elyria.” “People know me as president of the fire union, but I felt obligated as a taxpayer to file this,” Marks said. “There is a right that municipalities have to protect the lives and properties of its people, but with these cuts there is clearly going to be an immediate threat to public safety.”

Minneapolis pension losses 'breathtakingly bad'
Minneapolis Star Tribune (03/03/09)
The effect of police and fire pension investment losses on the Minneapolis city budget has grown exponentially worse, meaning even deeper city budget cuts for 2010. Last fall, the City Council was told that a 10 percent investment loss in the city's two closed pension funds would add $38 million in costs for the city over the next five years. Now tack on another $116.7 million. That's the extra hit the city will feel over the next five years because investment losses reached about 30 percent for the year. Although that has happened to pension funds across the nation, the effects are far worse in Minneapolis, because its long-closed police and fire pension funds have few working employees generating income for the two closed funds, and almost all members are drawing pensions. "It is breathtakingly bad," said Council Member Betsy Hodges, who is trying to sell the legislature on the city's position that its police, fire and general employee pension funds should be merged into larger statewide funds. That would give the city more time to meet its pension bills, mitigating the annual impact on the city budget. But a merger will be fought at the State Capitol by the city pension funds for police and fire fighters, closed to new employees for nearly 30 years. A merger means they would have to give up control of their respective funds.

Union Twp. cops, firefighters eye bailout
Cincinnati Enquirer (03/03/09)
This Clermont County community is seeking $8.5 million in federal stimulus money to avoid the possible layoff of 25 police officers and 25 fire fighters/emergency medical technicians. “Without additional revenues and with the prospects of economic hardship in the area for many months to come, layoffs are imminent,” Cory W. Wright, the township’s interim administrator, wrote in an application for federal funds. “Union Township projects all carryover funds to be exhausted, and further projects a shortfall approaching $5.5 million for the 2010 fiscal year,” Wright wrote. Meanwhile, Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg has applied for $1.2 million in federal funds to maintain the staffing of his deputies. Also, Pierce Township police are seeking $626,000 to keep a school resource officer and an undercover narcotics officer, as well as to hire two new officers. Funding through the Ohio Federal Stimulus Initiative might be available by fall, Rodenberg said.

Six Danbury unions agree to concessions
Danbury News Times (03/02/09)
The city has come to an agreement with six labor unions that will save the city money while still giving the employees raises. Both city and union officials said they felt the agreement, which could be approved by the Common Council, is a good compromise. Bargaining units affected by the agreement are the police department, fire department, public buildings, municipal employees and public works. The agreement calls for union employees to get a three percent raise during the next fiscal year. The raise, however, will be split up into two segments. The first 1.5 percent in July and the second 1.5 percent in January. Union members will also get a three percent raise during the second year of their two-year contracts.

Cuts could put public at risk, union leaders warn
Orlando Sentinel (04/01/09)
If Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer goes ahead with deep across-the-board cuts in the city budget next year, residents who call 9-1-1 might wait longer for help to arrive, union officials warn. Fire engines won't come as quickly, they say. Neighborhood police patrols might go away. Dyer hasn't said exactly how he'll deal with a projected $40 million budget gap, but he's exploring deep across-the-board cuts to every division. Because nearly half the city budget goes to the police and fire departments, that approach almost certainly would mean fewer cops and fire fighters to respond to emergencies. "There's no way we could do this without massive layoffs — of fire fighters, not civilians," said Steve Clelland, president of the firefighters' labor union. "And when you lay fire fighters off, that unit has to shut down."

Back to main page