Fort Myers Fire Fighters Campaign to "Rehire the Fire"

October 23, 2009 – Fort Myers, FL Local 1826 is asking IAFF members and citizens to support its "Rehire the Fire" campaign to reverse drastic cuts to public safety made in September by the City administration.

Earlier this year, the City of Fort Myers arbitrarily reduced company staffing from four fire fighters to three, violating the collective bargaining agreement between the City and Local 1826 and reducing crew effectiveness. In a special ruling, the Public Employees Relations Commission advised the City to restore staffing to NFPA 1710 standards.

However, City Manager William Mitchell ignored this ruling. This staffing violation is now in the grievance process.

On September 23, 2009, the City approved a budget that resulted in:

• The layoffs of 17 fire fighters
• A reduction of 38 fire department positions
• Reduced engine and truck company crew size (from four to three)
• The shutdown and closure of a ladder truck and two rescue units
• Reduced staffing from 33 fire fighters to 21 fire fighters per 24-hour shift.
  

The campaign is designed to educate the public about how the City of Fort Myers is gambling with the lives and property of its residents, visitors, businesses and fire fighters and other City employees. The goal is to "right the wrong" done by the City of Fort Myers politicians and to:

• Rehire the 17 laid-off fire fighters
• Re-open the closed ladder and rescue units
• Restore staffing to 33 fire fighters per 24-hour shift
• Restore NFPA staffing levels to four fire fighters per apparatus

For more information, visit the "Rehire the Fire" web site and Facebook page.