Detroit Local Wins Court Favor on Public Safety

August 8, 2006 – A Michigan Court of Appeals has released its opinion that the City of Detroit must investigate and negotiate in arbitration the impact on public safety when considering fire department reductions.

“This is a great victory for our members,” says Dan McNamara, president of Detroit, MI Local 344. “The city can no longer layoff fire fighters or close fire stations with impunity. They must consider the impact of their actions on public safety.”

The new favorable ruling comes just weeks after the same court granted an injunction prohibiting the city from implementing a plan calling for the layoff of 64 personnel, the elimination of nearly 50 percent of the battalions, deactivation of fire engine companies and the demotion of 10 battalion chiefs.

The proposed reductions to the Detroit Fire Department were initially proposed in September 2005 after Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick laid off 63 fire fighters and closed fire companies and one battalion.