Ruling Restores Minimum Staffing for Airport Rescue Fire Fighters

October 1, 2008 – An arbitrator has ruled that the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, violated provisions of a labor agreement between the IAFF and the Command by reducing staffing last year.

The arbitrator determined that the Command did not have the authority to reduce staffing on Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) equipment required by Department of Defense (DoD) policy and that the employer must either return to previous staffing levels or apply for a waiver from DoD.

In the decision, the arbitrator agreed with the IAFF’s position and held that the Command violated DoD policy and the governing provisions of the labor contracts which required it to adhere to pertinent regulations and policies.

Her findings in the ruling concluded that reductions in staffing of ARFF vehicles would impede the ability of fire fighters to effectively respond to emergency incidents and increase the safety and health risks for fire fighters and all on the scene. “This action appears contrary to the [Command]’s assertion that the safety of the fire fighters, flight crew, passengers and the aircraft is the first concern,” she wrote.

The ruling requires the Command to immediately restore minimum staffing of ARFF vehicles to three, undertake a risk analysis concerning staffing and propose a timetable for restoring staffing levels or applying for a waiver from DoD.

The IAFF represents ARFF fire fighters at Hanscom Air Force Base (Bedford, Massachusetts), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton, Ohio), Robins Air Force Base (Warner Robins, Georgia) and Tinker Air Force Base (Tinker, Oklahoma).

For more information, contact 16th District Vice President Jim Johnson at (202) 360-1318 or (937) 470-4340.