Omaha Local Thwarts Layoffs

At a press conference, Local 385 President Bates refutes claims that staff reductions would not hurt service.

July 24, 2007— Because of the swift actions of the IAFF and Omaha, NE Local 385, more than 100 fire fighter jobs are safe after an Omaha City Council-mandated public safety efficiency study conducted by the Matrix Consulting Group found the fire department would be just as effective with three fire fighters as four fire fighters per apparatus.

"The International was quick to get involved in this case because any threat to safe staffing levels is serious," says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "Without enough fire fighters on-the-job, the lives of our members and the citizens they are sworn to protect are put at unnecessary risk. With two-thirds of the nation's fire departments still below safety standards, staffing must remain a top priority for this union."

“It was clear from the beginning that the study was going to attack staffing," says Darren Bates, president of Local 385.

Despite the fact that four-person staffing is protected by both City ordinance and the local’s contract, Omaha City Council President Dan Welch was quoted in the media as backing the study’s recommendations. “There’s not going to be a reduction of response times as a result of these reductions,” stated Welch.

The IAFF reviewed the Matrix study’s findings and determined that the recommendations did not comply with the NFPA 1710 standard safe staffing. The IAFF also prepared wage exhibits comparing Omaha to jurisdictions of similar populations in regards to base salary, total compensation and cost per hour worked.

“The IAFF helped us turn its findings into concise talking points that were very effective in making our case against following Matrix’s layoff recommendations,” says Bates.

At a press conference held to announce the results of the study, Bates interrupted to ask Council President Welch pointed questions about the effect of the study’s recommendations on public safety. “Welch couldn’t answer questions about response times in his own district, NFPA 1710, taxpayer costs and other important issues,” said Bates.

Local 385 also worked to make sure its message was communicated in the media, including several radio talk shows.

At the July 17 City Council meeting, five of the seven Council members made it clear that they were not in favor of implementing Matrix’s staff reduction recommendations.

“Omaha needs to maintain four fire fighters per apparatus to continue to deliver the same level of fire and EMS service citizens are accustomed to and deserve,” says Bates. “It is clear the City Council and the public heard that message. Now, staffing cuts will not even be considered in next budget.”