IAFF:Always on the Front Line

Firefighters get furlough and overtime exemption extension
Sacramento Bee (09/30/09)
Bob Wolf, president of California Department of Forestry Firefighters, sent an e-mail to the union's executive board announcing that the 3,900 or so employees in Bargaining Unit 8 will be furlough-free through the end of this year. They'll also be exempt through December 31 from state policy changes that no longer count leave time toward the threshold for overtime pay. "It's the uniqueness of the job," CDFF spokesman Terry McHale said. State fire fighters can be asked to travel from fire to fire, working away from home for days or weeks on end. "In terms of practicality, (the exemptions) just made sense." Wolf said, "Our entire CDF Firefighters team has worked hard to prevent negative impacts to our members and their families, and I am proud of our union's accomplishments. I can tell you that no one on our team in Sacramento has taken a single break or stopped our efforts to leave no stone unturned in our fight to prevent huge fiscal hits to our families. I ask you to remember that not all state employees will enjoy these exemptions so be respectful when discussing this with others -- times are hard and people are hurting out there."

48 city workers laid off
Waukegan News Sun (09/30/09)
City finances remain well on the wrong side of the ledger book, and 48 employees have lost their jobs. Officials said 38 part-time and 10 full-time city workers, including seven full-time police department employees, were given layoff notices. "We were certainly hoping to avoid it," said Mayor Robert Sabonjian. "The financial situation is actually kind of degrading. The deficit is far greater than we were told it was." Officials said the current deficit stands at about $6.3 million, more than twice the amount cited in estimates earlier this year. The layoffs followed a hiring freeze and an early retirement program, efforts that will reduce the revenue shortfall by $1 million. Sabonjian said that only non-union and management staff, along with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 473, "have made the necessary concessions to keep us operating in a financially responsible manner."

City orders 12 furlough days for city employees except police and firefighters
The Star Ledger (09/30/09)
To cope with a budget gap of more than $40 million, Jersey City officials confirmed they are imposing mandatory layoffs on the city's non-uniformed workforce -- and union members are livid. "People are absolutely freaking out," said Chuck Carol, president of the Jersey City Public Employees Union, Local 246, which represents about 650 white-collar workers. Margaret Peselli, who makes $39,000 a year as a senior clerk typist in the city's IT department, said she can't afford the cutback. "This might just put me out on the street," said Peselli. "I own a home and I have a husband in a nursing home. I'm struggling as it is." This move comes after only 51 people signed up to take voluntary furlough days earlier this year, saving the city just $40,000 to $50,000, officials said. All city employees, except police officers and fire fighters, will work 12 fewer days between December 24 and June 30 without pay.

More than 1,000 line up for Vegas firefighter jobs
The Las Vegas Review-Journal (09/30/09)
Craig Mills had been ready for Monday morning for five years. The 21-year-old Las Vegan stayed physically fit, worked to become a certified emergency medical technician and completed a junior fire fighters program. His next step was to apply to become a city fire fighter. "This is all I've wanted to do," he said. With application, resume and letters of recommendation in hand, Mills arrived at Las Vegas City Hall about 5:00 a.m. He was ninth in line because he had reserved his spot ahead of time, but it didn't guarantee his dream would be fulfilled. About 1,300 other hopefuls lined up behind Mills, all eyeing 15 existing vacancies and others that might come up in the next few years. The jobs are good ones in normal times, let alone in the middle of a recession. They pay well, come with a good health insurance plan, allow early retirement and don't require a college degree.

Firefighters fight staffing shortages
Winknews.com (09/29/09)
In the City of Fort Myers, layoffs may be putting lives at risk. This is the concern from the firefighters' union.
Last week, 17 fire fighters were laid off in the City. This has reduced the number of fire fighters working on a shift to 21. The union says this means less crews responding to a fire, delaying response time. "I believe it's going to make tremendous change in operations and safety of this City. Two minutes will ultimately decide life or death or save a property," said Walt Stevens, head of the Firefighters Union and veteran Fort Myers fire fighter.

Diaz Has His Budget Ducks in a Row
NBC Miami (09/29/09)
With only a few hours before the city commission has to vote on a budget to keep Miami afloat, Mayor Manny Diaz is somewhere rubbing his hands tightly while a rye smile creeps over his face like Mr. Burns. Exxxxxcellent!" Diaz, who has been threatened by just about every public employee in the city, has somehow managed to get each of the unions to agree to deep concessions to help the city out of its financial hole. The firefighters and general employees unions agreed to cuts in pay, vacation time and an early retirement option to avoid layoffs.

State Budget Cuts Could Affect Local Police and Firefighters
9&10 News (09/29/09)
More than 4,000 police officers and fire fighters in Michigan have lost their jobs in the last decade. Now many fear more will be out of a job because of state budget issues. The City of Care had its budget done months ago and figured in cuts to their state revenue sharing. But the City Manager doesn't know what will happen until legislators finalize the budget. The police department makes up 30 percent of the city's budget, so it would be one of the first places to look to make up any difference. But what's more of a concern is what happens next over three, four or five years. The Clare City budget is about $3 million and the police department gets about $1 million. The City Manager says they've budgeted for about $580-thousand in revenue sharing from the state this year.

Layoffs, longer hours opposed by E. Providence firefighters
The Providence Journal (09/28/09)
The city’s fire fighters are vehemently opposed to the city manager’s proposal to cut 28 positions from their department while simultaneously increasing the remaining staff’s work week by 33 percent without a corresponding salary boost. City Manager Richard Brown’s budget for fiscal year 2010 — which begins November 1 in East Providence — recommends eliminating two vacant positions and laying off 26 of the least senior fire fighters. It also calls for ridding the department of one its four platoons and changing the work week to 56 hours with 24-hour shifts. Fire fighters’ contributions to health care will also increase to 20 percent if approved by the council next month. Brown believes this will save the city nearly $1.34 million during a year when state aid is being cut $4 million and city officials have agreed to give the school district more money for its students and deficit. The fire fighters’ current work week is 42 hours long. East Providence Fire Fighters Local 850 president Paul B. Cotter said the current contract calls for two 10-hour day shifts, two 14-hour night shifts and four days off. Most fire fighters’ health care contribution is $14 per week.

Council gets bad-news budget
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09/24/09)
This wasn't the budget that Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett wanted to present. In an ideal budgetary world -- at least in the mayor's view -- the state would either authorize a new local sales tax or boost shared revenue to local governments. Then the city wouldn't face pressure to slice spending on police, fire fighters and libraries.
But in the real world, the city doesn't have a local sales tax, shared revenue has been cut and Barrett's 2010 budget calls for paring firefighter and police staffing and neighborhood library hours. And unlike the 2009 budget, the mayor didn't present his real and ideal spending plans side-by-side. As he laid out the bad news to the Common Council, Barrett said he would continue to press the state for ways to diversify the city's revenue base. The mayor said he would insist on holding the state shared revenue appropriation steady and obtaining "a city share of a countywide sales tax to help address the continuing decline in the state's commitment to shared revenue." Police and firefighter union leaders say they're ready for a battle over the budget's recommended public safety spending reductions. Both John Balcerzak, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, and Bobbie Webber, president of the Milwaukee Professional Fire Fighters Association, said they would argue that the cuts jeopardize residents.

Officials hope layoffs will have minimal impact
Business Gazette (09/24/09)
Prince George's County officials are hoping layoffs of up to 125 employees will have a minimal impact on residents, but a union leader says such a goal is unrealistic and is urging the county to tap into reserves to avoid the cuts. "We are watching that closely," Andrew Pantelis, a spokesman for the county's firefighters' union, said of the surplus. County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) announced that 85 general employees would be laid off in addition to up to 40 health department employees, whose jobs were funded by state grants. The layoffs are designed to make up about $4 million of a $22.7 million gap created when Governor Martin O'Malley reduced local funding to balance the state budget in late August. Those being laid off will find out by October 2 and be put on paid leave until their employment ends November 1. "I have tried very hard during the 18 months of this economic downturn to prevent job losses," Johnson said. "As a result of the state cuts four weeks ago, I have nowhere else to look." Keary said the county is deliberately targeting employees whose work will not impact the public. The layoffs are not expected to be to any of the county's sworn police officers or fire fighters, he said, although civilian employees in the departments may lose jobs.

Firefighters, other jobs cut as Fort Myers approves budget
Wink News (09/24/09)
Nearly 70 jobs are gone in the city of Fort Myers. The cuts came as the city council approved its budget for the next year. The cuts include 64 full-time jobs and five part-time positions. Six police jobs are being reallocated to be paid for by grants, but the Fort Myers Fire Department couldn't escape the chopping block. "It's tearing our department apart," said Assistant Chief Trenton Bowen. Twenty jobs are being cut in the department, including 17 active fire fighters, who will be out of work in just days. Those on the chopping block knew their possible fate, and many were in attendance at the city council meeting, some leaving city hall in tears after the vote. "It's almost one-third, it's almost a whole shift. We're shutting down apparatus, we're going to have to pick and choose some calls."

Don't furlough police, fire fighters
The Baltimore Sun (09/24/09)
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon is insisting all city employees take their fair share of furlough days, including the police and fire fighters. But what she fails to understand is the fact that our city police and fire fighters do their fair share on a daily basis. They lay their lives on the line for an average salary of $45,000 to $60,000.

Firefighters plead, but county OKs budget cuts
Gainsville Sun (09/23/09)
A 2009-10 budget that cuts programs and eliminates 25 positions was approved by the Alachua County Commission in a room full of fire fighters concerned that their department is not adequately funded. One resident spoke against the tax increase on which the budget was based. Alachua County Fire Rescue personnel and their union have mounted a public campaign to convince commissioners to close a deficit of $528,000 by shifting money from other programs. Fire fighters wore neon green T-shirts with a slogan to save fire service and earlier had carried signs on street corners around the County Administration Building. They contend that the department may run out of money during the year, forcing a reduction in service that would lead to longer response times. At the meeting, firefighters' union president Brett Sandlin offered to work with the county to get federal grant funding that previously was limited to maintenance needs but can now be used to add fire personnel. "I stood before you two weeks ago and begged you not to reduce staff on fire trucks or to take fire trucks off the road. I don't believe you really want to do that. Some of you may -- I don't know," Sandlin said. "The grant process is going to open up in October. They are going to allot $630 million and that money is going to be used to rehire laid-off fire fighters and to prevent further layoffs or reductions in staff. I am willing to help you get that grant."

Akron: Mayor announces jobs will be saved
Marion Star (09/23/09)
With the layoff deadline looming for Akron city workers, there is hope to save jobs. The mayor says the cuts won't be as bad as first thought. Mayor Don Plusquellic is looking outside the city budget to find a way to keep as many safety, service and other city workers on the payroll as possible. This move comes before the more than 200 layoffs were scheduled to take effect.

City budget is grim all over
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09/23/09)
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett wants to reduce fire fighting crews, raise property taxes 4.4 percent and cut library hours to balance the 2010 city budget. Barrett's $1.4 billion spending plan also would freeze all city employees' wages and impose four unpaid furlough days on nearly every city worker -- including police officers but not fire fighters -- expanding on a recent deal with the city's largest union. But if other unions agree to similar terms, none of their members would be laid off and only 10 managers would lose their jobs. Overall, it's a grim budget for taxpayers, city workers and those who use city services. Barrett says it had to be that way to close a shortfall of more than $90 million. Stock market losses took away one-third of the city pension fund's value, forcing a $49 million city contribution. Wage and benefit costs were on the way up. And the 2009-'11 state budget cut shared revenue and boosted landfill tipping fees.

Police, firefighters crowd West Palm Beach budget hearing; commission raises tax rate
Palm Beach Post (09/22/09)
The city commission raised the tax rate 7.4 percent. Now the real work begins. The commission still has to negotiate with its workers' unions and cut $7 million more from the budget to make it balance. The commission voted 4-1 to raise the operating tax rate to just over $8.07 for every $1,000 of taxable value, up from this year's rate of $7.55. The total tax rate, including debt service, goes up to $8.46 from $7.87. While the tax rate was raised as the city faces unprecedented budget cuts, Mayor Lois Frankel continued to stress that nearly 70 percent of city residents will pay less in property taxes due to declining property value. Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell was the one dissenting vote. The overall budget decreased nearly 4 percent to just under $183 million. But the real story was the more than 100 fire fighters and police officers who showed up to protest a proposed increased work load and pay freezes. Union negotiations could drag on for months. "Sitting up there in your council chairs is a lot different than going to work with a bulletproof vest and getting shot at or running into a burning home," fire fighter Doug Kalinsky said to the commission.

Pasco fire engines could be short-staffed starting next month
Tampabay.com (09/22/09)
Pasco fire engine companies may be running short-staffed starting next month after the union defeated a proposed contract that would have saved all but nine vacant positions. Commissioners learned this morning of the defeated contract, which fell short by 19 votes needed for ratification. Officials said a total of 270 union members cast votes. The contract would have waived union members' right to a 5 percent pay raise next year plus their right to six of the 10 paid holidays. But without the concessions, officials must cut 30 vacant positions at Pasco Fire Rescue. Administrators used the funding for those 30 positions to help pay overtime to ensure that fire trucks are carrying at least three people to fire scenes. Now, that bucket of available money is gone. And with the fire district fund's property tax rate already set in stone, officials say they have no other place to turn but personnel. The upshot? If too many fire fighters are out one day – either for illness or vacation – administrators won't necessarily call in employees for overtime duty. So fire engines may now show up at scenes with two fire fighters aboard, forcing dispatchers to send more trucks to get enough personnel on scenes. That means "there are going to be bigger voids," across the county, Chief Anthony Lopinto said. Officials will only start paying overtime to bring on additional personnel if eight companies fall to the two-man staffing levels. There are 23 engines countywide.

Council OKs firefighters’ plan to ward off layoffs
The Spokesman Review (09/22/09)
The Spokane Fire Department will avoid layoffs thanks to an early retirement plan approved unanimously by the Spokane City Council. Council members praised the Spokane Firefighters' Union for what they called a “creative” solution to erase the 2010 deficit in the fire department’s budget without reducing employee compensation. Under the deal, the city will compensate fire fighters who retire early to help cover medical expenses for up to eight years until they qualify for Medicare. The agreement allows 20 fire fighters to retire by the end of the year and be eligible for the new benefit. An additional 10 can retire April 1. After that, another 10 could apply annually, at least through 2011. Retiring employees hired before October 1, 1977, will receive payments of $300 a month, until they’re eligible for Medicare, for up to five years. Those hired later will receive $500 a month until they’re eligible, for up to eight years. The city is expected to save money under the plan because a starting fire fighter makes about $44,000 in his or her first year, while fire fighters on the job for 25 years earn about $79,000.

Rockford Firefighters Stand Against Layoffs
WIFR (09/21/09)
A nearly $4 million dollar deficit is forcing Rockford leaders to make some tough decisions. The latest plan would cut 30 employees and leave another 30 positions vacant. In a show of solidarity, Rockford fire fighters asked aldermen not to cut their staffing, or risk damaging public safety. Rockford fire fighters pack in to city hall to listen to their union president E.J. Dilonardo deliver a strong message. "The line has been drawn and we have not drawn it," says Dilonardo. "I stake our reputation, our honor and our lives on defending that line." Dilonardo says the firefighters' union will not back down from its stance that reducing manpower damages public safety. Rockford administrators are now planning to lay off eight fire fighters. But Dilonardo says cutting staffing will actually cost the city more than it will save, because the department has an agreement that it must have a certain number of fire fighters on duty every day.

Baltimore proposes shutdown, furloughs to close budget gap
The Baltimore Sun (09/20/09)
Baltimore city government would be closed for five days between October and June as most workers participate in a new furlough plan that the city's spending board will be asked to approve this week to help plug a $60.2 million gap in the city's $2.3 billion budget. Fire fighters and police also would have to accept furloughs or equivalent reductions to make the cost-saving program work, city officials said, but union leaders are resisting any plan that takes their members off the streets, arguing that further cuts to their agencies would endanger the public.

LA city budget deal averts layoffs, furloughs - for now
89.3 KPCC (09/18/09)
The agreement, a copy of which has not been made public, saves an additional $78 million from the Coalition of City Unions. The unions agreed to increase the pension contributions to 7 percent, up from the current 6 percent. Those who retire early will have to pay 1 percent of their pension benefits. The agreement is subject to a final vote by the LA City Council and ratification by unions. The plan puts pressure on the early retirement package that the unions had lobbied hard for. City council members, many of whom got elected with the help of labor unions, were trying to figure out how to preserve the early retirement program. Villaraigosa, who helped negotiate it, said he’d veto it. He’s endorsed the idea of furloughs and even layoffs for all but police and fire departments. But he did say that the unions that represent cops and fire fighters will have to give up more.

Firefighter layoffs possible in '10
St. Augustine Record (09/18/09)
The possibility that some St. Johns County (Florida)fire fighters will be laid off will likely be a step closer to becoming reality when the County Commission discusses the proposed 2010 budget that includes the fee that funds a large chunk of the fire department. The county and the firefighters' union are at odds over the 3 percent pay raise the county is contractually obligated to give the roughly 200 union employees. Paul Apfelbach, vice president of IAFF Local 3865, said three union members left the department last week for jobs in Jacksonville with the possibility of layoffs looming.

City firefighters offer to take salary cut
Cumberland Times News (09/18/09)
Chuck Koelker, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1715 in Cumberland, said the amount of money the fire department needs to cut from its budget is equivalent to eliminating the nine newest people on the force. “That is not what we’re proposing to do though,” Koelker said. “What we’re offering, is every pay period (every two weeks) we would be paid for 75 hours instead of 80 hours. Technically it’d be a pay cut, but it doesn’t lower our salary. But this is just one of the ways we’ve proposed to handle the budget cut.” The second option the fire department would like to see is early-retirement packages.

Firefighters will pay for health insurance
Hernando Today (09/18/09)
The Spring Hill fire board approved the union labor agreement, which includes no pay increases for fire fighters.
The union also agreed to pick up the additional 8 percent hike in insurance costs for their dependents, according to the contract. It means nearly all district employees will pay a portion of their health insurance. That has not always been the case. The board voted 4-1 to approve it. Fire commissioner Rob Giammarco, as he had promised, voted against it. He insisted it didn't go far enough. The labor agreement between the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District and Professional Firefighters of Spring Hill Local 2794 applies to fiscal year 2009-10, which runs from October 1 through September 30.

Eight unions OK 2010 pay freeze
Journal Times (09/17/09)
Eight of the city's unions have agreed to a pay freeze for 2010, and minimal increases for this year. The contracts also require the city to maintain current staff levels in certain departments and include new workout incentives for fire fighters. "As long as we are not losing staff ... we are not upset," said Craig Ford, who represents the city's fire fighter union. The city's parks and public works union and two clerical unions made sure no staff reductions will happen and included stipulations in their contracts stating that the city must maintain current staff levels through the end of 2010.

McAllen budget hinges on retracting raises from fire, police unions
Monitor (09/17/09)
City officials are asking McAllen’s police and fire fighters to give up raises in the upcoming fiscal year to shore up the new budget due October 1. McAllen is facing falling revenues this year for the first time since 1994 and has taken steps to rein in expenses. The last step is to shave off an additional $2.4 million in salaries, with $850,000 coming from the police and fire departments, City Manager Mike Perez said. The remaining $1.6 million in savings will come from leaving 85 non-civil-service positions vacant and reducing the raise for non-civil-service employees to 1 percent. “The City Commission and the mayor, their marching orders to me is to be prudent, but for us to be able to do that we’ve got to have the participation of (the police and fire fighter unions,” Perez said. Otherwise, he will have to make up the difference by further reducing costs among the non-civil service employees. The police union is entering the second year of a two-year collective bargaining agreement and is due a 3.5 percent raise. The fire fighters union is entering the final year of a three-year agreement and is due a 4 percent raise. The fire fighters union will vote on a potential compromise with the city that calls for a 4 percent raise coupled with a one-week furlough. The city has also requested reducing minimum fire truck manning from 40 to 36, which McAllen Firefighter’s Association President Amado Cano called a “safety issue.”

Cumberland Firefighters Could Get Cut in Face of Budget...
Your4State.com (09/17/09)
State budget cuts have cost the city of Cumberland more than one million dollars. Now city officials are considering phasing out paid fire fighters and switching to an all volunteer force. The career fire fighters of local 1715 say this would hurt the community. They are willing to take pay cuts and do whatever it takes to keep the department alive. Local 1715 handles over 6,000 calls a year and says this could become a life or death situation for members of the community. "This department was established in 1906. It's weathered the Great Depression, two world wars. The citizens of Cumberland deserve a paid fire department," says Lt. Stephen Grogg.

Riviera Beach passes $53 million budget
The Palm Beach Post (09/17/09)
Fire fighters wearing yellow T-shirts packed the front seats of the council chambers to oppose the city's plan to cut four fire fighter positions to balance the budget. The Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County refused to agree to unpaid furloughs for the city's fire fighters, which they can do under their contract. Other city employees face furloughs beginning October 1. The furlough proposed for fire fighters would have required them to take 24 hours of unpaid leave every three months, said Chuck Lupo, vice president of the firefighters' union Local 2928. Other city employees will be required to take one unpaid day off a month under the approved budget.

Lancaster firefighters make another wage concession
The Columbia Dispatch (09/16/09)
City fire fighters voted to accept a lower raise than they were contractually entitled to, the second time this year that they made wage concessions to save jobs and help balance the city budget. After fire fighters voted in January to defer their 3 percent raise this year, they would have been entitled to collect a 6 percent raise in 2010. Instead, a majority of the 80 unionized fire fighters who gathered at Engine House One voted to take only a 2.5 percent raise, and also leave two positions vacant. That leaves the fire department with a staff of 90, down from 92. The alternative would have been laying off eight fire fighters.

Denver Firefighters OK pay/benefits cuts
The Denver Daily News (09/16/09)
The Denver firefighters’ union membership voted to forgo $7 million worth of salary and health benefits to assist the city in closing a $120 million budget shortfall. The 84-percent majority vote came on the same day Mayor John Hickenlooper presented City Council with an $855.6 million budget partially dependent on contract negotiations with unions representing fire fighters, police officers and sheriff’s deputies. By accepting the contract — which is expected to save the city $3.2 million next year alone — members of Denver Fire Fighters Union Local 858 saved 54 positions that were slated to be cut if the union rejected the offer. “This personal sacrifice is a painful one to make, but the fire fighters feel that the safety of the community and their fellow fire fighters must take precedent, especially in this time of economic uncertainty,” said Pat Rhoades, president of Local 858. Fire fighters will forgo $3.2 million in salary next year, and another $3.2 million in 2011. Another $600,000 will be saved through modified health care benefits. The sacrifice equates to about $7,600 per fire fighter over the year, said union officials. Fire fighters in April agreed to nearly $1.4 million in concessions for this year and agreed to an additional $1.4 million for 2010. Union officials say the latest round of concessions brings the total through 2012 to $8.4 million. Hickenlooper praised the city’s fire fighters for their sacrifice.

Akron, Ohio Lays Off 38 Firefighters
Akron Beacon-Journal (09/16/09)
Akron has issued layoff notices to 201 employees -- and more than half are police officers or fire fighters. The 14-day notices went to 96 police officers, though this includes 21 high-ranking employees who are eligible to bump down into lower positions. Thirty-eight firefighters -- including the entire rookie class hired last September -- also got notices.

Henderson firefighters delay most of pay increase
Las Vegas Review-Journal (09/16/09)
Henderson fire fighters, to help the city through tough financial times, will delay most of a pay increase they were set to receive this year. The city's 188 union fire fighters were due for a 3.5 percent bump during the current fiscal year. Instead, their wage increase will be spread over the next three years, starting with 1 percent this year and 1.25 percent in each of the next two years. The difference is expected to save the city about $2.3 million. The move drew praise from city spokesman Bud Cranor. "I think the point for us is this is money we wouldn't have had," he said. "For any of our bargaining units to come to the table when they don't have to is important to us. I think the city appreciates that."

Youngstown plans second round of firefighter buyouts to cut costs
Vindy.com (09/16/09)
City administrators have agreed to another early-retirement buyout for fire fighters to reduce expenses. Also, the firefighters' union agreed to base-pay freezes for the final two years of its contract, retroactive to September 1. The buyouts won’t save any money for the city this year, but the estimated savings would be about $250,000 in 2010 and about $200,000 in 2011. The city’s savings on the fire fighter buyouts in future years would come from replacing higher-paid senior fire fighters, who average $58,000 in annual base salary alone, with rookies who’ll earn $24,000 in annual base salary to start. It would take new fire fighters 10 years to reach an annual base salary of $52,500 under a tentative agreement reached between the city and its fire fighter union. Between nine and 12 fire ighters are expected to take the buyout. The tentative agreement says the buyout won’t be offered unless at least nine fire fighters agree to it.

East St. Louis to lay off firefighters, city workers
St. Louis Business Journal (09/14/09)
East St. Louis plans to lay off 13 fire fighters and five other city employees on October 1 to help offset a $2.9 million city budget deficit. The city has an annual budget of about $22 million, and the recession has hammered revenue. The number of East St. Louis fire fighters will be cut to 45 from 58.

Firefighters skip pay raises
Burbank Leader (09/11/09)
After sustaining more than $1 million in budget cuts, Burbank fire fighters have agreed to forgo pay raises for the coming year. The City Council voted 4 to 0 to approve the agreement with the Burbank Fire Fighters Local 778 and Burbank Fire Fighters Chief Officers Unit for fiscal year 2009-10 after Councilman David Gordon recused himself. City officials could not estimate how much money the move would save Burbank because the unions notified executives of their intent before cost-of-living figures could be crunched. Still, the City Council lauded fire fighters for pro-actively addressing the ongoing effects of the recession and state budget troubles on the city. The draft agreement “represents the fire fighters really stepping up, recognizing the budget challenges that the state has, that we have at the city, and really being a partner,” Councilman Dave Golonski said. “We see time and time again in cities that are struggling that they’re still battling with people about that. Fire fighters [here] early on in the process stepped up and said ‘we recognized that it’s tough times,’ and they put their foot in to be part of the solution,” Golonski said.

Crippled fire department hopes grant will save jobs
The Morning Journal (09/09/09)
The Elyria Fire Department will apply for a grant that could bring back 18 fire fighters and won't cost the city anything, according to Chief Richard Benton. The department has been crippled with the loss of approximately 17 firefighters, eight of whom just received their layoff notices Friday. Another six fire fighters retired, stripping the department's roster, and making "it tough to do our job," said Dean Marks, president of the Elyria Firefighters Union.

Oak Lawn trustees OK firefighters union concessions
Southtown Star (09/09/09)
Oak Lawn and its fire fighters reached an agreement on cost-cutting concessions, saving about a dozen fire fighter jobs and putting an end to a bitter dispute over ways to close the village's budget shortage. The village had threatened to lay off 11 fire fighters unless significant concessions, including adjustments to the union's medical benefits packages, were offered by the fire department. The new deal, approved in a 5-0 vote, doesn't include those health-care cost increases. But it does call for the fire union's 85 members to give up their holiday and overtime pay for the next 16 months. Instead, they'll work those hours for straight pay and have agreed to "working furloughs," or working for free on certain days. Fire fighters also will forgo scheduled raises and will lose their annual $1,000 clothing allowance typically used to buy uniforms and equipment. The union also will drop two outstanding grievances.

Lawrence firefighters halt medical responses due to budget woes
The Eagle Tribune (09/08/09)
They've delivered babies, re-started hearts and patched up the young and old alike. But due to budget cuts, city fire fighters have stopped responding to most medical aid calls indefinitely. This reduction follows two firehouse closures and 10 fire fighter layoffs last month. It's no secret times are tough and Fire Chief Peter Takvorian said it's impossible for the department to do more with less. The ranks of the fire department are so low now, crews must focus on their primary responsibility — fighting fires, he said. "Unfortunately, these are the kinds of compromises that have to be made in times like this," Takvorian said. "We just don't have the resources and manpower available to tie up pump trucks at medicals when we could have a fire starting somewhere. I do not want to be in a position where I don't have resources available to send to a fire." Lawrence fire fighters last year responded to 138 building and brush fires, and 2,728 medical aid calls. Already in 2009, fire fighters fought 63 building and brush fires, and responded to 1,984 medical calls. A three-tiered response normally pulls police, fire and an ambulance crew to a medical aid call. Without fire fighters, only police and a Patriot ambulance crew will go to the majority of calls now. Paramedics from Lawrence General Hospital are also available to respond to life-threatening calls.

Six Fort Myers Beach firefighters laid off
News-Press (09/08/09)
The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District has laid off six fire fighters and may have to close a station because of a drop in property values. Chief Mike Becker eliminated six fire fighters and said more layoffs could be necessary. The move was made in response to the Board of Fire Commissioners passing a 2.3017 millage rate.
Becker said more layoffs could be necessary unless fire fighters and their union reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Lawrence firefighters halt medical responses due to budget woes
Eagle Tribune (09/08/09)
They've delivered babies, re-started hearts and patched up the young and old alike. But due to budget cuts, city fire fighters have stopped responding to most medical aid calls indefinitely. This reduction follows two firehouse closures and 10 fire fighter layoffs last month. It's no secret times are tough and Fire Chief Peter Takvorian said it's impossible for the department to do more with less. The ranks of the fire department are so low now, crews must focus on their primary responsibility — fighting fires, he said. "Unfortunately, these are the kinds of compromises that have to be made in times like this," Takvorian said. "We just don't have the resources and manpower available to tie up pump trucks at medicals when we could have a fire starting somewhere. I do not want to be in a position where I don't have resources available to send to a fire." Lawrence fire fighters last year responded to 138 building and brush fires, and 2,728 medical aid calls. Already in 2009, fire fighters fought 63 building and brush fires, and responded to 1,984 medical calls.

Eight Elyria firefighters given layoff notices
The Chronicle Telegram (09/08/09)
Eight more fire fighters have received layoff notices, bringing the total of employees let go this year to 18. The layoffs bring manpower to 42 — 38 fire fighters and four administrative personnel — the fire chief, fire marshal, training officer and fire prevention officer. Dean Marks, an Elyria fire fighter and president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 474, said it was a tough day for everyone involved. “It’s kind of ironic on Labor Day week guys are getting their layoff notices,” Marks said. Some veterans are in this round of layoffs, Marks said. The fire fighters who are losing their jobs have been with the city three to 10 years, he said.

Specter of layoffs chills Reading's Labor Day parade
Reading Eagle (09/08/09)
Cloudy, fall-like weather wasn't the only thing that put a chill in the air as the Reading police honor guard and a phalanx of 30 city fire fighters led off the 22nd Annual Labor Day Parade and Celebration. The parade through downtown Reading came three days after Mayor Tom McMahon announced the city might have to cut as many as 45 police, 35 fire and 15 rank-and-file city jobs to close a $15 million budget gap. Many of the men and women who marched in the parade did so with the knowledge they might not have jobs next Labor Day. "We have 22 people on duty today," Fire Chief William H. Rehr III said. "That number could be 10 or 12 or 14 this time next year."

Firefighters consider pay cut to restore ladder truck staffing
The Eagle Tribune (09/07/09)
Fire fighters are considering cutting their pay by 1 percent in an effort to avoid layoffs and seat a second person on the town's only ladder truck. The move could prevent the firefighters' union and the town from going to arbitration over a grievance filed by the union when the two-man ladder truck team was broken up in July, said Thomas Agnew, president of the firefighters' union. Fire Chief Michael Mansfield reassigned the ladder aide position to fill vacancies when other fire fighters call out sick or are on vacation, injury or bereavement leave. The change is expected to reduce the fire department's overtime budget by $120,000 this year. But Agnew, a ladder truck operator, filed a grievance over the reassignment, claiming it puts fire fighters in danger and violates their contract.

Economy taking bites out of labor
Contra Costa Times (09/06/09)
On a day normally set aside for picnics, marches and parades to honor America's workers, many Angelenos will spend their day either looking for jobs or worrying about keeping the ones they have. The economic downturn has pushed Los Angeles County's jobless rate to nearly 12 percent - and the tough jobs outlook is expected to continue in 2010.

City of Muskegon looks to cut even more from 2010 budget
Muskegon Chronicle (09/05/09)
Much of the budget-cutting medicine for 2010 has already been swallowed by the city of Muskegon, but next year's proposed budget still provides antidotes for shrinking revenues. The budget adjustments are proposed through elimination of services and staff -- including two fire fighters -- rather than tax increases. The city's property tax millage could be raised, but that is not being suggested by City Manager Bryon Mazade. However, fees such as for water and sewer service will be addressed by the city commission in December.

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