Orlando Fire Fighters Protest Layoffs

June 18, 2009 – Hundreds of fire fighters from across Florida picketed Orlando City Hall June 15 to protest Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's proposal to lay off 46 fire fighters. Dyer plans to eliminate approximately 10 percent of the city's workforce to avoid a budget deficit projected at $43.5 million next year. IAFF members attending the Florida Professional Firefighters (FPF) Convention were among the union workers at the rally.

Picketers wearing gold-and-black T-shirts and carrying signs saying "Your Service, Your Safety, Rescue OFD, Save OPD lined both sides of the street for a full city block during the evening rush hour as part of their efforts to win public support.

Dyer maintains that the number of jobs cut could be reduced if the public safety unions agreed to give up a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase, but Steve Clelland, president of Orlando Local 1365 says the mayor has never said how much money he wants public safety workers to give up. The union also argues that city leaders are unwilling to use emergency reserves to bolster public safety. "We are aware that these are tough times," says Clelland, "We are willing to give back, but we are being asked to cut more than less important services."