Five Fire Fighter Jobs Saved in Connecticut

October 14, 2009 – An 11th-hour agreement has saved the jobs of five Thompsonville, CT Local 3059 fire fighters. With assistance from the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association (UPFFA) of Connecticut, Thompsonville, CT Local 3059 convinced the Fire Commission to accept its proposal to use the fire marshal or training officer to cover for fire fighters who call in sick Monday through Friday. This came after Thompsonville Fire Commission had previously voted in favor of the layoffs as a cost-cutting measure.

The deal enables the department to save in overtime costs and keeps minimum staffing to four per shift.

“For the safety of fire fighters and the citizens we serve, we are pleased that the Commission decided to make this deal,” says Local 3059 President Thomas Brocuglio. “We cannot thank UPFFA President Pete Carozza, UPFFA Staff Representative Matt Flor, fire fighters from around the region and the citizens for all of their assistance and support.”

In August 2009, facing budget shortfalls, the Commission told Local 3059 it would need to make concessions, including reducing minimum staffing from four to three per shift.

Local 3059 worked hard to develop a concession plan that did not include layoffs and presented its proposal to the Commission. The fire fighters’ only request was for the chief and assistant chief agree to the same concessions. The chiefs refused.

The Thompsonville fire fighters came back, offering even more cost-saving measures, including a contract freeze and no pay raises, that would have saved the fire district more than enough to balance the budget. But still, the Commission said that was not enough.

UPFFA Carozza stepped in and helped Local 3059 organize an informational picket the night the commissioners were set to give final approval on the fire fighter layoffs. More than 200 fire fighters from around Connecticut and Massachusetts and many of the area’s citizens turned out for the picket.

The Commission then agreed to use on-duty fire marshals and training officers to fill in for any absent fire fighters.