Los Angeles City Fire Fighters Descend on City Hall

May 20, 2009 – More than 500 Los Angeles City, CA Local 112 fire fighters marched to City Hall and into city council chambers May 18, demanding that city leaders put public safety first. The event was organized after the city administration proposed to cut $40 million from the Los Angeles Fire Department budget to help make up for the city’s expected $530 million shortfall for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) Local 112 President Pat McOsker says a fire department cut of that magnitude would have a devastating effect on the safety of the fire fighters and the citizens they protect and serve.

“The fire chief has said he’d have to shut down 20 companies a day in order to accommodate the proposed cuts,” says McOsker. “If that happens, people are going to die in our city and we cannot let that happen. While we understand sacrifices will have to be made, we cannot make these drastic cuts to our resources.”

UFLAC Local 112 President Pat McOsker addresses Los Angeles City Council

When fire fighters reached city hall, about 300 fire fighters went inside, where McOsker and UFLAC 2nd Vice President Frank Lima addressed the city council and voiced their concerns about what the cuts would do to pubic and fire fighter safety.

The council listened and took immediate action, voting to reject a proposal to freeze fire department hiring. However, since Local 112 is currently in contract negotiations with the city and other cost-cutting measures are being considered, no decisions were made regarding the fire department budget.

Visit the UFLAC web site to view a video from the march and for updates on budget decisions.