IAFF:Always on the Front Line

Contra Costa firefighters delay raises for two years in exchange for two-year contract extension
Silicon Valley Mercury News (04/30/09)
Contra Costa's largest fire union and the county have tentatively agreed to postpone pay increases for two years in exchange for a two-year contract extension, saving an estimated $5.1 million. The more than 300 fire fighters, inspectors and dispatchers in the Contra Costa Fire Protection District ratified the deal and county supervisors will vote on the accord later. A 2.5 percent raise this year and next year would be postponed for two years for Confire members of United Professional Fire Fighters IAFF, Local 1230. In exchange, the Confire contract, set to expire June 30, 2010, would be extended with all other provisions for two years. "The fire fighters didn't have to take this action. They are one of the few labor groups still under contract," Board Chairwoman Susan Bonilla said. "There have been discussions about the loss of revenue eventually creating the need to do brownouts and closures, and we wanted to do what we could to maintain our level of service," said union president Vince Wells. Confire operates 30 engine companies with 28 stations.

Firefighters stage pickets
WYTV 33 (04/30/09)
Warren fire fighters are trading their fire hoses for picket signs. They're holding an informational picket in an effort to make the public aware of staff level concerns and other safety issues. The picket comes just three days after a fire at a group home. The blaze left four people critically injured, including a city police officer. The fire station nearest to the home is only a half-mile away, but budget cuts resulted in its closure, slowing the fire fighters' response time the day of the blaze.

Budget Cuts Threaten Firefighters' Jobs
WFtv (04/29/09)
Nearly 10 percent of Orlando;s fire fighters could soon lose their jobs. "This fire department would be severely crippled," Union President Steve Clelland said. The firefighters' union is butting heads with city leaders over dollars. Union leaders say the city is threatening to layoff 46 fire fighters if the union does not find a way to trim millions of dollars from its contract. The fire chief has already come up with a plan that includes not filling 20-vacant positions and cutting out overtime, but the union needs to cut an additional $4.3 million. Union leaders claim, for them to even open the contract legally, the city must declare a 'financial urgency' and show them the numbers. The union claims the city does not want to do that, because it will hurt the bond ratings on the multi-million dollar venues downtown. "This is literally going to come down to services versus venues," Clelland said.
But the city counters, the venues have nothing to do with it. City officials flat out deny threatening the 46 layoffs. Officials also deny telling the fire department where to cut. They only say that 12 percent of the department's budget needs to be cut.

Providence seeking $13 million in concessions to close budget gap
Providence Journal (04/24/09)
Mayor David N. Cicilline’s plan to close a projected $17-million deficit in the current fiscal year calls for major changes in health care, pension and wage benefits that all city employees must agree to. Failure to do so, he said, would result in nothing less than a “financial meltdown.” In a news conference in his City Hall office, Cicilline said, “Unless we implement these structural reforms in every contract, every liquid asset would be spent down, our bond rating would be severely downgraded, and we would be unable to meet payroll.”

Vancouver firefighters forgo wage increase in 2010
The Oregonian (04/24/09)
Two Vancouver firefighters' unions with a total of 20 employees have approved contracts that call for no cost-of-living or market adjustments in 2010. The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 452, Fire Marshal's Unit, with 13 employees, and IAFF Local 4378, Fire Command, with seven employees, become the latest firefighters' unions to forgo cost-of-living increases.

Under duress, Ridgefield firefighters give $84,000 savings to town
Danbury News Times (04/24/09)
Ridgefield's firefighters' union has made $84,000 in concessions in its newly signed three-year contract, but members of the Local 1739 of the IAFF say they did so under threats of job layoffs. "The threat was, either make these concessions or we will have to lay off six fire fighters," said Michael Moore, union president. "For our safety fighting fires and the safety of the residents of the town, we felt we had to make the concessions and keep the staff at the numbers it was." Moore said he feels the whole situation was "mishandled from the start" by town officials. Add to that the fact that First Selectman Rudy Marconi has given non-union employees in the fire department two paid days off to balance out a pay freeze, and the union members are up in arms, Moore said.

Town Unions Trade Wage Freeze for Promise of No Layoffs
The Day (04/23/09)
In exchange for a promise from Mayor April Capone Almon that there will be no layoffs, all six of the town’s non-Board of Education (BOE) unions have tentatively agreed to pay freezes “or the equivalent in concessions” for the remainder of this and the upcoming fiscal year. None of the town’s approximately 225 non-BOE union employees will see his or her hours reduced, either. If ratified, this tentative agreement is expected to save taxpayers some $300,000 over the course of the fiscal year that starts on July 1. Capone Almon had sought pay-freeze concessions from the six unions — East Haven Police Union Local 1662, Firefighters Local 1205, Supervisors Local 818, Fire Dispatchers Local 1303-248, Town Hall Employees Union Local 1303-159, and Public Services Union Local 1303-119 — earlier this month in an effort to close a $2.4 million budget deficit. That deficit has been attributed to “serious accounting errors” dating back “at least several years.” These errors include a BOE “payroll omission.”

Shortfall looms large as fire union holds out
Las Vegas Sun (04/23/09)
County officials hoping to finalize their budget by mid-May are frustrated that they aren’t even close to getting concessions from the firefighters' union to help curtail a $114 million shortfall. Administrators are still shaking their heads over the 10-page March 27 letter they received from Ryan Beaman, president of the county firefighters' union, which has about 770 members. “We are happy to report that the financial health of the County is not as bleak as you have been led to believe.” Beaman then suggested numerous possible areas for cuts — both in the department and in the county’s overall budget — including travel expenses, money for dinners and gala events, consultant fees, management, conferences, memberships and subscriptions.

Firefighter layoffs are not saving city a dime
Woonsocket Call (04/23/09)
Members of Mayor Susan D. Menard's administration openly acknowledged what the firefighters' union has been saying all along — the contentious layoff of 11 fire fighters last month isn't saving the city any money, as was intended. The city might even be spending more money than it would have if no one were laid off, said Planning Director Joel Mathews. “At best there were no actual savings,” said Mathews. “It will be break-even or come with a slight cost, but not a lot.” The city had hoped to net savings in salaries, health care benefits and pension contributions as a result of the layoffs, Mathews said, but the gains have been eaten up by increased overtime costs. Mathews calculates the layoffs are driving up overtime at the rate of about $10,000 a week — $54,000 since cuts took effect on March 8 — but Captain Gary Lataille, treasurer of the International Association of Firefighters Local 732 — contends the city is still lowballing the figure. In the six weeks that have passed since the layoffs took effect, Lataille said the city has spent $65,649, racking up overtime at a rate that will easily reach the $200,000 mark by the end of the fiscal year. Moreover, Lataille said there is another $55,000 in hidden overtime costs that the city is logging as compensation time, a move the IAFF contends is the result of an unlawful directive issued by former Chief Kenneth Finlay in January. Union members will have to be paid in cash for the compensation time if their pending grievance of the order is successful. “I've been tracking the figures for how much overtime has been the direct result of the layoffs since day one,” said Lataille. “Their figures are tainted, but to actually hear them say the city is even breaking even is huge for us.”

Town May Ask Staff To Take 5-Day Furlough
WFSB (04/23/09)
One money-saving proposal the town of Wallingford has put on the table is to have its 1,400 employees take five furlough days. The town's elected officials said they're willing to consider any idea, except one. "Layoffs are always the last resort," City Council member Vincenzo DiNatale said. "There's a lot of important services." Some of the council members are pitching unpaid days off. "We think it's very workable because no one loses any raises, no one is laid off," City Council member Bob Parisi said. The town is in the middle of hammering out deals with all of the employee unions, council members said. Mayor Bill Dickinson's proposed budget asks for many of the unions to shave money or face layoffs. The Firefighters Union said the mayor asked for $130,000 in concessions. Firefighters said they came up with $140,000, but that the mayor said no.

Firefighters to slice raises to avoid layoffs
Record-Searchlight (04/22/09)
A collective belt-tightening among Red Bluff employees makes it appear the city is going to weather current economic hard times without wholesale layoffs. Employee bargaining units, and even City Council members, already have been willing to take pay cuts and forgo raises to keep the city in the black. Now the city’s fire fighters have offered to cut their upcoming pay raise in half to help the bottom line. “We’re not going to proceed with layoffs for the rest of the fiscal year,” City Manager Martin Nichols said. City Council members reviewed an offer from the city’s fire fighters, whose bargaining unit offered to accept a 6 percent pay raise instead of a 12 percent boost scheduled to take effect January 1, Nichols said. Nichols said the city and the firefighters’ bargaining unit still need to have some more talks, but he feels better that representatives “at least made a proposal.” The fire fighters’ offer follows the City Council’s earlier request for 7 percent pay cuts and to postpone raises. Declining sales tax revenues during the recession have hit the city’s treasury hard. The city’s goal was to reduce the general fund budget from $8.5 million to $7 million.

An Effort to Save Flint, Mich., by Shrinking It
The New York Times (04/22/09)
Dozens of proposals have been floated over the years to slow this city’s endless decline. Now another idea is gaining support: speed it up. Instead of waiting for houses to become abandoned and then pulling them down, local leaders are talking about demolishing entire blocks and even whole neighborhoods. The population would be condensed into a few viable areas. So would stores and services. A city built to manufacture cars would be returned in large measure to the forest primeval. “Decline in Flint is like gravity, a fact of life,” said Dan Kildee, the Genesee County treasurer and chief spokesman for the movement to shrink Flint. “We need to control it instead of letting it control us.” The recession in Flint, as in many old-line manufacturing cities, is quickly making a bad situation worse. Fire fighters and police officers are being laid off as the city struggles with a $15 million budget deficit. Many public schools are likely to be closed.

234 layoffs would leave city no one to carry out rules
Toledo Blade (04/22/09)
Imagine a city without tax collectors or permit inspectors. No lawyers, zoning officials, or contract compliance specialists, either, and 150 fewer police officers. Whether such Wild West scenarios strike you as heavenly or frightful, that is how the city of Toledo would look if all 234 employees who received layoff notices are indeed laid off next month. But it turns out some layoffs are more definite than others, and Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's administration reiterated that only about half of the 142 general-fund workers who received notice actually will be laid off on May 17. "Not everybody who received a layoff notice is going to be laid off," mayoral spokesman Jason Webber said. Mr. Webber said the administration is researching what jobs and people to retain, and the question of who will or will not lose their jobs presumably will be decided before the May cut-off date.

Warren Firefighters Asked to Take Concessions
WYTV 33 (04/22/09)
Warren City fire fighters say they are being asked by administrators to make concessions or face additional layoffs.City administrators say they are working with all the unions to try and balance the budget. Fire fighters say they feel City Hall is threatening them and they are losing faith in the mayor. The mayor says he has also been in contact with state and federal officials hoping he will be able to get some additional funding for the fire department. Several fire fighters were called into a meeting at City Hall to discuss Warren's financial situation. The fire fighters say they are being asked to help save the city about $430,000. If they are not willing to make the concessions, they were told 15 more fire fighters could be laid off. Eleven fire fighters were laid off in January.

Findlay firefighters take a hit from tax revenue shortfall
WTOL (04/21/09)
Cities all across Ohio area are being faced with budget cuts, including Findlay. Indeed, 11 Findlay fire fighters could soon be laid off because of a tax revenue shortfall. Some feel the cuts could negatively impact public safety. "Eventually something's going to happen and God help them if it does," said Matt Cooper, president of IAFF Local 381. "We're concerned about the public at this point." Cooper says he understands the city needing to make cuts, but believes laying off fire fighters is a bad idea.

Villaraigosa budget proposal to include 10% salary cuts
The Los Angeles Times (04/19/09)
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to unveil a budget proposal that calls on nearly every city agency to scale back salary costs by 10 percent as part of his effort to eliminate a $530-million budget shortfall. The mayor is expected to seek reductions even at the police and fire departments, which traditionally have been shielded from cuts, while moving to merge three other city agencies and find private companies to run city parking garages. Details of any salary decreases are still unknown, in part because Villaraigosa is negotiating the specifics of a plan to offer early retirement to thousands of city workers. He also is holding salary talks with police and fire fighter unions.

SB firefighters push to restore eight jobs
San Bernardino Sun (04/18/09)
City fire fighters have been hanging fliers on doors to alert residents that "things have changed." Eight vacant fire fighter positions, typically filled with fire fighters on overtime to maintain staffing levels, were recently cut from the department to save $1.2 million. No one was laid off. Fifth Ward Councilman Chas Kelley has put the item on the City Council's agenda. He said approving the cuts in February was an "oversight" and he hopes fellow council members "will agree and restore these vital positions that are needed to save lives." Eliminating the positions affected three stations, dropping them to three-man crews from four-man crews, which is the nationally accepted standard. Now only three of the city's 12 stations are staffed with four members on an engine company. Fire union president Scott Moss said off-duty fire fighters have already passed out 1,000 fliers and hope to distribute another 3,000. "This is because we promised to protect the citizens and now our ability to do that is comprised," he said. "We think it's important for the citizens to be aware that their staffing has changed and they're no longer protected by adequate staffing."

No jobs awaiting Worcester fire cadets
The Boston Globe (04/17/09)
The budget crunch is taking a toll in Worcester, Massachusetts. Seventeen people graduated from the Worcester Fire Academy, but none of the up and coming fire fighters have a job.

City firefighters agree to concessions, ratify contract
San Diego Union-Tribune (04/17/09)
City fire fighters have agreed on a two-year contract that includes giving up all of their holiday hours and picking up a larger amount of retirement pay, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced. The firefighters' union, representing about 1,400 fire fighters, paramedics and EMTs, is the first of city's three unions to ratify labor contracts that could help retain city jobs and close the city's massive budget gap. “I commend them,” said Sanders at a news conference in front of a downtown fire station. “They were the first to step up to the plate, and that shows tremendous leadership and cooperation.” The terms, which amount to a 6 percent cut in compensation, include freezing salary and benefits for the next two years, reducing the $900 uniform allowance to $475 and eliminating all 140 of the holiday hours that fire fighters accrue each year. Fire fighters will also be required to contribute 4.3 percent to their retirement, a cost the city previously picked up. The union also agreed to lower the guaranteed rate of return for special pre-retirement accounts, to 3.54 percent from 7.75 percent. The cuts will save the city an estimated $5.82 million each year. “They made significant concessions and very tough choices,” said City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who gave his thanks along with council members Todd Gloria and Tony Young. “They did this because they care.” Frank De Clercq, president of the Local 145 firefighter's union, called the moment bittersweet. “We are relieved to have reached an agreement and also realize that it comes at a steep price to our members,” he said. “They understand the crisis our city is facing.”

City might ax 25 cops, 25 firefighters
Mansfield New Journal (04/16/09)
City police Chief Phil Messer doesn't want to consider losing 25 more officers. "That many officers combined with our seven vacancies would lead us to respond to emergency calls only," Messer said. "I hate to say it, but that would come with severe reductions in service." In a worst-case scenario, the police and fire departments would have to lay off 25 more employees, in addition to the four they each already lost. Mayor Don Culliver said no decision has been made. "All this stuff is a working document," Culliver said. "When we figure that out, we'll announce what we need to do." Fire Chief John Harsch isn't sure what to think. He said employees in human resources told fire fighters they would lose 25 more employees.

Ten firefighters let go, more cuts looming in Elyria
WKYC (04/16/09)
Mayor Bill Grace says Elyria's financial inferno that led to 10 fire fighters being laid off is getting hotter after new income tax deficit projections doubled what was expected. "All that was based on 4.6 percent reduction and we're now at 10, so there's more cuts that are going to be coming," Grace said. More cuts is the last thing fire fighters even had time to hear. Early Wednesday morning, every available fire fighter responded to an apartment building fire in which a woman jumped from a second floor to avoid the flames. For some of these Elyria fire fighters who were at the blaze, it was their last fire. They were among the 10 who were let go that morning. "We're scrambling right to figure out how to fight fire with potentially nine guys on the scene," Union President Dean Marks said.

Sandwich Firefighters won’t accept wage increases
Sandwich Broadsider (04/15/09)
Sandwich fire fighters will forego their annual wage increases for fiscal 2010. Sandwich Professional Firefighters President Jason Viveiros said that the union won’t accept the increases in order “to lessen the burden on the taxpayers of Sandwich.” Viveiros said most fire departments on Cape Cod will receive a 3 percent increase in fiscal 2010, and Sandwich fire fighters would have expected a similar increase. Viveiros said if raises had been given to fire fighters, the Sandwich Fire Department could be forced to make layoffs and reduce services. “We understand that without this offer, the department, which has been running for many years on a level service budget, could be compromised. The services that the residents have come to expect could be negatively impacted,” Viveiros said. “We have worked very hard to provide exceptional fire and emergency medical services. This offer would hopefully keep the services as they have been for the last eight years.” Viveiros said the Sandwich Professional Firefighters voted unanimously to forego the increases at its March meeting.

Township May Cut Firefighting Force In Half
WLNS News (04/14/09)
A big decision could leave a section of Jackson County with almost half of its fire fighters. A tight budget is forcing Leoni Township officials to debate major cuts to the fire department. As Stephanie Kolp explains, it might be the only option they have. It seems like a never ending saga in Leoni Township. Officials here have been trying for months to figure out how to pay for their fire department. With little money left, the township has no other options to but lay off some fire fighters.

Sparks firefighters agree to skip pay raise
San Francisco Chronicle (04/10/09)
The union representing Sparks fire fighters has agreed to forgo a 4.2 percent pay raise they were scheduled to get this year to help the city address a budget shortfall. City Manager Shaun Carey praised the International Association of Firefighters Local 1265 for offering the concession that will save the city about $430,000. It still must be approved by the city council as it works to cut $1.7 million from the city budget for fiscal year 2009-10. Local President John Warner says the union backed the move unanimously to help make sure there is no reduction in fire or rescue service.

Layoffs: 11 Vance firefighters are losing their jobs
Enid News & Eagle (04/09/09)
As the result of the Air Force lowering minimum staffing requirements for its fire departments, 11 Vance Air Force Base fire fighters have been notified they will be laid off. Ten fire fighters will be laid off immediately when the lowered staffing minimum goes into effect, while one currently is on medical leave of absence. The Vance fire fighters are employees of CSC Applied Technologies LLC, the base’s primary civilian contractor. The Vance fire fighters facing layoff are members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 898.

Mayor takes aim at 7,000 more jobs
Staten Island Advance (04/09/09)
In a shot across the bow of the state legislature and the city's powerful public employee unions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is threatening to slash 7,000 more jobs on top of the 9,000 cuts he ordered a couple of months ago.
In a letter sent to all city agencies, city Budget Director Mark Page blamed the latest round of cuts on an economy that "has continued to deteriorate" and uncertainty over state aid and negotiations with unions to save the city money on pension and health care costs. Harry Nespoli, head of the Municipal Labor Committee, who negotiates on behalf of city unions and their 310,000 employees, called Page's letter a bargaining ploy. Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson want to create a pension tier that would require workers to remain 25 years in their state or local agency in order to receive full retirement benefits, rather than the 20 years the current rules mandate. Uniformed city employees, such as police and fire fighters, would be eligible for full benefits at age 50.

Menino pushes unions for wage freeze
Boston Globe (04/09/09)
Mayor Thomas M. Menino formally presented his $2.4 billion budget to the City Council, but he immediately said he would be happy to rip up some sections and reverse the sweeping layoffs he has proposed if teachers, police, and other unions would agree to his proposed wage freeze. The budget for the year beginning July 1 calls for laying off 565 city workers, including 212 schoolteachers and 67 police officers, to cover expected declines in state aid, investment returns, and other sources. The budget does not include layoffs of fire fighters because the city already had eliminated 58 fire fighter positions in 2009 by canceling two recruit classes and leaving jobs unfilled. Those positions have been cut altogether from the coming year's budget. "This is probably the toughest budget I've seen in all my years as a city councilor or as a mayor," Menino said. "You don't see any relief out there."

Dayton, union reach deal on wage freeze
MSN Money (04/08/09)
The city of Dayton and the Dayton Public Service Union announced a deal that will save the cash-starved city $2.7 million and protect against future layoffs. In return, the city will not lay off or abolish any filled DPSU jobs and will not change any health insurance benefits through May 2010, when the union contract expires. The city is currently in contract negotiations with the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police. Similar discussions with the Dayton Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters are scheduled to begin soon.

Prince George's County Fire Department Changes
WUSA 9 (04/07/09)
Prince George's County career fire fighters are seeing their hours cut back leaving one local firehouse without a staff through the majority of the day. Career fire fighters have been told they will only staff Boulevard Heights from Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The rest of the day and weekends will now be covered by volunteers. The county fire department has 700 career fire fighters and 1,100 volunteer fire fighters. It answers more than 130,000 calls each year, or about 350 calls a day. Boulevard Heights is just one of more than 40 firehouses in the county. The county fire department is more than $10 million over budget. It has used furloughs, cut overtime and redeployed personnel to become more efficient. The President of the Firefighters Union, Douglas Bartholomew, told 9NEWS NOW, "Anytime you have budget shortfalls and you have to reduce the personnel answering calls, this is a threat to the community."

Seattle Faces Nearly $43 Million Budget Deficit
KUOW NPR (04/07/09)
Seattle's Mayor Greg Nickels is working on finding more ways to cut the city's budget. The city's finance department issued new revenue estimates that show a $43 million budget gap. The city's finance director, Dwight Dively, says the last time he had to issue a revenue projection, back in November of 2008, the global financial crisis had just hit. Dively says nobody really knew what the effect on the city's revenue would be.
Dively says what we have seen is the worst recession since the Great Depression. The nation has lost three million jobs lost in the last five months. And consumer spending has nearly ground to a halt. The mayor has already directed city departments to trim their budgets, and has cut salaries of some city executives. He is expected to announce the next round of cuts sometime in the next few weeks.

Denver firefighters agree to take cuts
Denver Daily News (04/07/09)
The city of Denver has reached an agreement with Denver Fire designed to help balance Denver’s 2009 budget. Mayor John Hickenlooper, along with Denver Fire Chief Nick Nuanes and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 858 President Patrick Rhoades, announced the terms of the agreement. The deal, which the union agreed to alter a collective bargaining agreement that became effective January 1 and runs through December 31, 2011, will create a savings of $2.9 million. “We are delighted, obviously,” said Hickenlooper. “That says a lot that they were willing to step up to the plate and be a part of the team.” Hickenlooper’s plan, enacted in November 2008, seeks to close an anticipated $56 million gap in the city’s 2009 budget. The city has been negotiating with its public safety departments to find $4.9 million (or 2 percent) in personnel savings from the police, fire and sheriff departments.

Vice mayor hoses fire department as Palo Alto faces $7.8M budget shortfall
San Jose Mercury News (04/07/09)
Palo Alto's fire fighters and police are "extremely wealthy and overpaid," and the relatively modest budget cuts proposed by those departments are "a blatant insult" to the community, Vice Mayor Jack Morton said at a city council meeting. During discussions on how to confront the city's growing budget shortfall, he singled out the fire department for reducing its current-year budget by just $39,000 at a time when the community services department is slashing more than 10 times that amount. In a tirade that drew public rebukes from fellow officials, Morton went on to rip the firefighters' union for trying to "blackmail" city council members who would stand up to its demands. Other council members were quick to distance themselves from Morton's remarks. Larry Klein called them "unprofessional," and Pat Burt apologized to the fire department and said Morton should be censured if he continued in that vein. With tax revenues in freefall, the city's budget deficit for the year that ends June 30 has grown to $7.8 million, up from an estimate of $5.8 million just last month. It's forcing all of the city's departments to scrounge for savings beyond those that will come from a citywide hiring freeze.

Temporary Mayor Michael Brown's proposed budget cuts police, fire hardest
The Flint Journal (04/07/09)
Look for 100 fewer officers on the streets here compared to just two years ago. The fallout from the city's massive deficit became clearer when temporary Mayor Michael Brown outlined his proposed 2009-2010 budget -- which calls for a total of 85, layoffs most from public safety. Two fire stations also may close, according to a union official. North side resident John Summers said he hates to see deep budget cuts, but there's fewer and fewer residents to serve. "There's no jobs and people are leaving left and right," Summers said. "Most of the people are gone now. I don't want to see this happen, but it's just the way it is right now." The layoff tally includes 48 police positions, 24 fire fighters, and an additional 13 positions from various other departments. Brown said the cuts are painful, but necessary.

Fight over fire cuts
Monroe News (04/07/09)
The Monroe City Council appears poised to cut nine fire fighting positions, eliminate the city-run ambulance service and possibly close the east-side fire station unless the firefighters' union agrees to reopen its contract.
Those are among the $1.1 million in cuts presented during first reading of the proposed 2009-10 city budget. A large but orderly crowd packed city council chambers and heard the council explain why city staff will have to be cut by 15 percent, reducing the number of full-time, budgeted employees from 205 to 175. Fire department staffing already was reduced from 41 to 31 last year. The new budget that takes effect July 1 would cut that even further to 22. A public hearing on the $19.1 million budget was set for April 20 and the council is expected to vote on the budget that night. Support of five of the seven council members is required for approval. Monroe International Association of Firefighters Local 326 had distributed a flier suggesting that the mayor and council are "willing to risk the lives of your family" through job eliminations that it said would increase response times, reduce emergency services and create unsafe staffing levels at fires.

Police, fire layoffs in latest budget figures
Easton Journal (04/07/09)
Since presenting his preliminary budget in February, Town Administrator David Colton said the financial situation in Easton has worsened. Colton gave the board of selectmen a “worst case scenario” budget that includes cuts to fire and police personnel, as well as a reduction in the hours of all clerical workers at town hall. Colton said the town’s deficit has now risen to $2,287,365, an increase of approximately $250,000 since February. Unless state aid increases or municipal unions agree to certain concessions, all clerical staff will have their hours cut from 35 hours per week to 27 hours per week, saving $133,000. Colton said he is asking the unions to agree to increased co-pays as part of health insurance negotiations but said there has been no progress in the talks. Fire Chief Thomas Stone said if three fire fighters were laid off, staffing would revert to 1987 levels; any more than three would revert to 1975 staffing levels. He also said 14-16 percent of ambulance calls already are covered by mutual aid due to the high number of calls the department receives. “Any reductions here are going to have a serious impact on residents,” Stone said. “Reaching this level of reduction in fire fighters would almost certainly result in permanent closure of one of our three firehouses,” Colton said in a memo. In addition, if the unions do not accept a six-month delay in implementing any raises or step increases that are due July 1, an additional fire fighter and four police officers would be laid off; the four police officers would be in addition to the one police officer facing a layoff in Colton’s original budget.

North Las Vegas firefighters agree to defer 3.5% cost-of-living raises
Las Vegas Review-Journal (04/07/09)
North Las Vegas' firefighters' union has agreed to defer a 3.5 percent annual cost-of-living increase to save the financially strapped city money. The 202 fire fighters represented by the International Association of Firefighters Local 1607 voted last week on the concessions, which also include cutting fire fighter uniform allowances from about $800 a year to about $400 and deferring sick leave "sell-back" for a year. Employees have the option of selling back to the city a portion of their unused sick leave each year. Pending City Council approval, the raises will be deferred to later years. The fire fighters' contract with the city, which expires in mid-2012, will be extended two years as part of the agreement.

Guinta city budget would ax 6 firefighters
Union Leader (04/07/09)
The Manchester Fire Department would have fewer fire fighters and probably would be forced to take some trucks out of service if the mayor's budget proposal is approved as is, Fire Chief James Burkush said. Six city fire fighters would be laid off under Mayor Frank Guinta's proposal. Another seven positions, now vacant, would go unfilled. Burkush characterized the loss in manpower as "significant" and said it would affect service levels. Station closings would be a possibility, he said.

Five unions agree to trim raises
Schenectady Gazette (04/07/09)
Five city unions agreed to smaller-than-budgeted raises for the next two years in recognition of the worsening economic climate. Schenectady had budgeted to give them 3 percent raises in the new contract to be approved this year. But all five unions agreed to take 2 percent raises instead in 2009 and 2010, with a deal to reopen negotiations for higher raises in 2011 if circumstances change. “We told them, ‘We can’t pay you 3 percent in the current economic climate,’ ” negotiating consultant John Paolino said. “They were willing to work with us,” Paolino said. “It was just fantastic. It was one of the best negotiations I’ve ever been in.” The unions also agreed to significantly reduce benefits for new employees, including any who started after December 31, 2008.
They will no longer be able to save up to 10 weeks of vacation to cash out when they retire, a tradition that costs the city hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. They will also only be able to save up to 25 percent of their sick days — down from 75 percent for some current employees — and they can only use it after retirement to pay their first year of medical premiums. paolino is now gearing up for the two major union negotiations: police and fire. The police negotiations will begin “any day now” and the fire union will head to the table in June. While the two contracts are very different, arbitrators generally consider them comparable and award raises to police based on the raises offered to fire fighters. That means that if this year’s negotiations with police fail, as they did last year, the city may be forced to duplicate whatever it agreed to give the fire fighters. The city tried to argue last year that if police were to get the same 4 percent raises that the fire fighters got, they should at least have to agree to the same givebacks as the fire fighters, who now pay some of their health insurance. That proposal was rejected. The police were awarded the raises without any givebacks, but only for two years — a time frame that had already expired by the time the decision was announced last year.

L.A. mayor seeks union cuts
Contra Costa Times (04/06/09)
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa asked city unions to "share the sacrifice" felt by private sector workers and accept pay and benefit cuts as a way to save 2,800 jobs now on the chopping block. Villaraigosa said the city's projected shortfall for next year has grown to $530 million — an amount that can be covered only through employee concessions, service cuts and another round of fee increases. "There has never been a time like this," Villaraigosa said at a City Hall news conference. "The key to us getting through this is shared sacrifice." The program cuts and fee increases would save 3,000 jobs, he said. The concessions being sought from unions would save an additional 2,800 positions. That would still require the city to lay off 400 workers, for which the paperwork has started, he said. Among the proposals are: asking city employees to work one hour a week without pay — something the mayor said he will do and wants City Council members to do; asking city workers to forgo both the annual step increase of 5 percent and the cost-of-living adjustments they are to receive in July; and increase their pension deductions by 2 percent. Civilian workers now have a 7 percent pension contribution and police and fire fighters have a 9 percent contribution. Pat McOsker, of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, which has its contract up this year with negotiations to begin April 15, said the union will look at the mayor's proposals. "We are concerned about the economy now and the potential loss of jobs," McOsker said. "We are not taking a hard line. We are not coming in with any fixed positions and we will be fair and reasonable."

Martin County officials, fire rescue workers both looking at ways to cut spending
Stuart News (04/04/09)
Martin County Fire Rescue Chief Tom Billington said he asked the fire rescue workers to reopen their contract as part of the county’s effort to cut $20 million in spending from the 2010 budget. “Hopefully, they’ll come forward and help us out and I think they will,” Billington said. “These are really tough times so we’re trying to work together to come up with some solutions.” The fire rescue workers got a 5 percent raise this year and are due 5 percent pay hikes in both 2010 and 2011 under a two-year contract extension the County Commission approved in August. As part of that deal, the union gave back a 5 percent cost of living adjustment this year that saved the county about $1 million. John Davidson, president of the 260-member Martin County Firefighters Association, said his members are working on a proposal to save the county money, but did not provide any details. “It’s tough out there right now and our guys know it,” Davidson said. “We gave almost $1 million from our contract back to taxpayers last year and we’re currently working with our members to find even more ways to help cut costs, reduce the budget and save taxpayers money — and we hope to reach a decision soon.”

Salem looking at first layoffs in 25 years
The Day (04/04/09)
Facing tight constraints in a tough budget year, the town of Salem is proposing its first series of layoffs in 25 years. After a special meeting on March 19, the Board of Finance asked the Board of Selectmen to cut $75,000 from the general government budget and the Board of Education to cut $240,000 from the schools' proposal. Having already pared their plans significantly prior to the meeting, both boards were left with little choice but to start eliminating or reorganizing positions. ”These are not cuts that anyone is advocating. They are reluctant recommendations based on a requirement by the Board of Finance,” First Selectman Bob Ross said. “ They are what we see as the least harmful, but any time you cut staff it comes with an impact on service.” Ross said these are the first layoffs he can recall in 25 years in the town. The Board of Selectmen discussed alternatives to the proposed layoffs, including approaching the public works and firefighters' unions and asking them to restructure their contracts and concede their bonuses, which they were unwilling to do. Ross was then forced to compose a list of potential cuts to winnow the budget by the necessary $75,000.

Portland Proposes Layoffs In City Budget
WMTW.com (04/03/09)
Portland's city manager has unveiled a budget recommendation that would cut six members of the police and fire departments. Joe Gray said that his proposal, which calls for $189 million in municipal spending, comes amid the worst economic decline he has ever faced. Gray said the budget boosts spending by six-tenths of a percent amid a $2.3 million decline in estimated revenue. He's proposing a property tax increase of just under 3 percent. Police unions have rejected the city's request to forgo a contractual pay hike in order to preserve jobs, and leaders of the fire fighters are recommending a similar stance. Other unions have signaled that they may be willing to defer increases in order to avert layoffs.

Union officials say L.A. is considering 400 immediate layoffs
The Los Angeles Times (04/04/09)
Faced with annual budget shortfalls that could grow to nearly $1 billion by 2010, Los Angeles city officials are considering the immediate layoffs of 400 city workers and eliminating an additional 2,800 positions in the months ahead, according to union officials. The city also is considering offering a voluntary early retirement package to employees that, because of the substantial financial liability added to the city's ailing pension fund, would require higher contributions by workers to help cover the additional costs. Details about the potential layoffs and an early retirement offer emerged from ongoing talks between the city's financial experts and public employee unions.

NH unions say they'll sue over proposed furloughs
The Boston Globe (04/03/09)
Public employee unions say they will sue the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, if workers are forced to take a seven-day furlough, as proposed by Mayor Frank Guinta. Bill Clayton, president of the city firefighters' union, believes it's against the law, but Guinta said is to legal to have furloughs. Guinta told the New Hampshire Union Leader that the city solicitor said there are a few unions that may have contractural protection and would have to consent to furloughs before they could be imposed.

Firefighters give up pay increases to avoid cuts
Morning Journal (04/03/09)
Lorain fire fighters have agreed to make contract concessions to keep everyone in their department on the job this year. The fire fighters have agreed to give up their 3.5 percent base pay increase from April 25 through the end of the year so they will be paid the same amount they received in 2008, according to a memorandum of agreement between the city and the fire department's union. For the rest of this year, fire fighters also won't be able to request or be paid for any compensation time they accumulate or have already accumulated, according to the memorandum. Tony Bucci, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 267, said 67 union members voted on the agreement and 45 approved it. "It's never easy asking guys for money, but they stood up, and I'm proud of them for doing what we did," he said. "This was a good move, and it gives the city nine months to work on their revenue part of it, so in 2010, hopefully, this won't be an issue again."

Escondido proposes benefit cuts and layoffs
San Diego Union Tribune (04/02/09)
Escondido's deepening financial crisis has made layoffs and further employee benefit cuts all but impossible to avoid, city officials say. The projected deficit has grown from the $5.4 million estimated early last month to $6.3 million. The widening gap is because of the continued decline in sales tax and property tax revenue. To balance the budget, subcommittee members Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Dick Daniels instructed city officials to: use $1.6 million from the city's $3.6 million reserves, which would be kept at a minimum of $2 million, and plit the rest of the deficit – $4.7 million – between layoffs and reductions in retirement contributions. All employees, including police and fire fighters, could be affected. Escondido has already made employee salary and benefit cuts – in addition to service reductions – this fiscal year to deal with a $7.4 million budget shortfall. The Escondido Police Officers Association has filed suit to overturn reductions the city imposed.

Firefighter layoffs return
The Chronicle-Telegram (04/02/09)
Lay off notices will go out this week to the same 10 fire fighters who just two weeks ago were able to tear up their pink slips after it looked as if their jobs would be saved. “Basically, we are right back to where we were on March 1,” said Mayor Bill Grace. “We will reissue the layoff notices to the 10 fire fighters who were originally slated to be laid off. Their last day will be April 15.” The decision to issue the notices came less than two days after City Council resoundingly rejected an agreement that could have stopped the layoffs in the department. Not even a courtroom pep talk delivered by Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge James Miraldi, the judge presiding over the taxpayer lawsuit, could bring about a better resolution. The lawsuit is still pending, and the next hearing is scheduled for April 14. “I don’t want to say we are at a stalemate, but I don’t know what else the city wants from us,” said local fire union president Dean Marks. “Essentially, they want us to give up all the concessions and will give us no kind of guarantee.”

Doherty’s letter: No fire company cuts
A letter received from Mayor Chris Doherty addressed to City Council brought praise and skepticism at the City Council meeting. The letter, according to firefighters' union officials and council members, essentially assured them the mayor has no intentions of cutting fire fighter staff or closing firehouses or engine companies. As a measure to hold the mayor to his words, Councilwoman Janet Evans made a motion to have a letter sent to the mayor to pin him down on the issue. The council voted 3-2 to send it. Council members Judy Gatelli and Bill Courtright joined the vote in approval. Evans said the council’s letter specifically requests Doherty to resend his letter to the firefighters' union as a “memo of understanding” so it can be added to the current contract. The council’s request does not impinge on the current negotiations between the administration and the firefighters' union, Evans said, but formally requests the mayor to put his words into more concrete contract language.
Council President Robert McGoff voted against the motion, saying it was a “spur-of-the-moment vote” and should be subject to more discussion. Councilwoman Sherry Fanucci added concerns about interfering with ongoing contact talks. Firefighter union Vice President Dave Gervasi told council that if the mayor means what he said, the entire contract picture changes and the majority of their impasses could be rectified.

Reno council ponders raising utility fees, some fire reductions
Carson Times (04/01/09)
Raising utility franchise fees for residents and businesses, browning out fire stations and closing City Hall on Fridays are being considered by the Reno City Council. City Manager Charles McNeely said revenues must be raised and spending cut to close a $18 million gap for the 2009-10 $172 million general fund budget. That's on top of $26.6 million, or 13.8 percent, in cuts made in 2008-09 because of the collapsing economy. The council agreed to $12 million in cuts proposed by McNeely and will determine how to close the rest of the gap in the next two weeks. McNeely's list also included a 3 percent reduction in all departments to save $5.5 million, translating to 75 employee layoffs, but the council deferred on that. Fire services cuts would save $3 million by rotating the daily closure of some fire stations or putting two-person crews in stations. The savings would come in not replacing 12 fire fighters who are expected to retire before or shortly after July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. The council approved the concept of a four-day, 38-hour work week for all employees except fire fighters and sworn police officers, which would result in a 5 percent pay cut to be negotiated with labor unions.

Union Twp. reviewing budget for layoffs
Cincinnati.com (04/01/09)
The new township administrator is reviewing budgets to determine how many cops and fire fighters/paramedics might have to be laid off in this Clermont County community. “We don’t want to lay people off,” said David D. Duckworth, who became township administrator March 9. “I want to do what we can to see that doesn’t happen.
“We are looking at five-year revenue forecasts and expense forecasts to determine how much money we actually need to maintain current operations and future operations,” Duckworth said. After the administrator crunches those numbers with Fire Chief Stanley G. Deimling and Police Chief Terry Zinser, the figures might be available in about a month for review by the Board of Trustees, Duckworth said. In February, township voters rejected a safety services levy that would have increased taxes by $5.8 million annually. The possibility of asking voters to consider a similar measure on another ballot this year hasn’t been discussed, Duckworth said. In an application filed with Ohio officials before Duckworth assumed his job, the township sought $8.5 million in federal stimulus money. That might be needed to avoid the layoff of 25 police officers and 25 fire fighters. The Union Township Police Department employs 58 officers and 18 others. The fire department has 68 full-time fire fighters/emergency medical technicians and two administrative assistants.

City Considers Cutting Firefighters To Trim Budget
The INDY Channel (04/01/09)
Kokomo officials are considering cutting 14 fire fighter positions in an effort to trim the city's budget. The fire fighters in question currently man city ambulances, which made about 2,000 runs last year. But Mayor Greg Goodnight, said he's investigating whether St. Joseph Hospital ambulances could pick up the additional runs, saving the city up to $1 million a year. "Before I would do it, I would have the assurance of both hospitals that we are not compromising safety," he said. "If there is a way we can revamp this and not cost jobs, that would be great. If not, we will do what's best for the city as a whole." Some fire fighters said the move could put the public's safety at risk. "Laying off an additional 14 fire fighters when we are four or five fire fighters down already would make things unsafe at the scene," said Charles Smalling, a 31-year fire fighter veteran.

Cops, Firefighters Might Pay Price for Stockton's Deficit
News 10 (04/01/09)
Residents of another major city in Northern California face a financial bombshell. Stockton's city manager unveiled a plan at the city council meeting to close a $31 million deficit that includes laying off dozens of police officers and fire fighters.

Columbia to reduce staffing, trucks at two stations
The State (04/01/09)
Columbia’s latest round of budget cuts has reached the fire department, which will reduce staffing at two city stations and take two trucks out of service. “It’s not a desirable situation,” Chief Bradley Anderson said. “We will maintain our coverage. We just won’t have the depth that we would have otherwise in terms of resources.”
The projected savings — about $1.2 million a year, according to Anderson — likely won’t be enough for the fire department to make its budget.

Cuts could put public at risk, union leaders warn
Orlando Sentinel (04/01/09)
If Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer goes ahead with deep across-the-board cuts in the city budget next year, residents who call 9-1-1 might wait longer for help to arrive, union officials warn. Fire engines won't come as quickly, they say. Neighborhood police patrols might go away. Dyer hasn't said exactly how he'll deal with a projected $40 million budget gap, but he's exploring deep across-the-board cuts to every division. Because nearly half the city budget goes to the police and fire departments, that approach almost certainly would mean fewer cops and fire fighters to respond to emergencies. "There's no way we could do this without massive layoffs — of fire fighters, not civilians," said Steve Clelland, president of the firefighters' labor union. "And when you lay fire fighters off, that unit has to shut down."

Elgin budget cuts hit police, firefighters
The Courier News (04/01/09)
City departments will feel the sting of $5 million worth of city budget cuts this year. The city sliced away at many aspects of the city budget including positions, training and overtime. City spokeswoman Sue Olafson laid the blame on the faltering economy. "As with all cities, the city of Elgin experienced reductions in all revenue streams because of the downturn in the economy," Olafson said. "All departments experienced reductions in personnel – the police and fire departments included." Overall, the city eliminated 16 management positions last year with another 38 positions eliminated this year through attrition or retirement. When deciding which staff to layoff, the "positions that would have the least impact on daily operations and would not compromise the safety and security of our residents were eliminated first," Olafson said. Budget cuts in the fire department included: elimination of the fire marshal position, overtime, public education programs, special events and training. Budget cuts in the police department include elimination of the communications director, public affairs research coordinator and community restitution supervisor positions. Also, eight police officers and six telecommunication positions are vacant.

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