Winston-Salem Firefighters: Underpaid, Understaffed, and Now Losing Their Sick Time— I heard you sir, have a seat.

[u/IronWolfBlaze]

Winston-Salem firefighters are facing a full-scale erosion of their pay, staffing, and safety—and the city is doubling down. Here's what’s happening:

• No step pay plan means firefighters have no guaranteed path to raises. They’re stuck in vague pay bands, creating pay compression and forcing many to leave for better-paying departments.

• Staffing was slashed from 89 to 79 per shift, well below the 4-person-per-truck standard set by NFPA and IFSTA.

• Safety 7 and the air supply truck were eliminated, removing key fireground safety support and equipment resupply.

• Sick time cut in half—from 288 to 134 hours a year. First-year vacation time also slashed from 240 to 112 hours. Even senior firefighters with 20+ years lose hundreds of hours.

• They’re paid 4–7% less than comparable departments in North Carolina despite facing more fires and longer shifts.

• Union President Parrinello was shut down at a city council meeting while trying to speak: “I heard you, sir. Have a seat.” —Mayor Allen Joines

• Meanwhile, Greensboro staffs 156 per shift. Winston-Salem does more with less and still gets punished for it.

• Firefighters are taking second jobs after 24-hour shifts just to get by—this isn’t just morale. It’s a public safety issue.

Full articles here: https://archive.ph/kjuy9
https://archive.ph/7Svig

Watch the mayor shut down the Union President. https://www.youtube.com/live/fYXwPz5VwOw?si=q5WTCgW5HMCwgQSl&t=1h16m5s

[u/extraspincycle]

Sounds like you all need to band together and all go on sick leave at the same time.

[u/Material-Win-2781 → u/extraspincycle]

Or advance FF friendly candidates for mayor and or city council.

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/extraspincycle]

That would be illegal and unethical.

[u/newenglandpolarbear → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

You know what else is unethical? Read the main post again.

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/newenglandpolarbear]

So punish the residents for the actions of the politicians?

[u/FirebunnyLP → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

The politicians were voted in by the residents. Cause and effect. They would be punished by their bad decisions.

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/FirebunnyLP]

Wow, rather hurt innocent people than do your job or quit.

[u/FirebunnyLP → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

Calm down drama queen.

If only you showed this much concern for the people you rely on.

[u/saltednutz69 → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

Sounds like a management problem to fix the poor work conditions.

[u/newenglandpolarbear → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

I am not arguing for or against a strike, all I said was that they were also being treated unethically. If this treatment of the FFs keeps up, there won't be any left to strike anyway.

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/newenglandpolarbear]

I’m arguing against a wildcat strike. I’m not supporting the politicians as your comment infers.

[u/beachmedic23 → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

Well the residents did vote for the politicians

[u/BetCommercial286 → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

Can’t eat ethics unfortunately. And not making rent would mean having the same roof over my head illegal.

[u/just_an_ordinary_guy → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

What's unethical is purposefully understaffing so that OT is mandatory. As far as legality, what's illegal about getting sick and using sick time?

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/just_an_ordinary_guy]

It’s called a wildcat strike, an unauthorized labor action and it’s illegal for any union. Also called blue flu. The courts have repeatedly held it as illegal regardless of type of union.

[u/just_an_ordinary_guy → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

IDK, if I have a sick note, then I was sick. It's not my fault that everyone else was also sick.

[u/TractorDrawnAerial → u/just_an_ordinary_guy]

The original comment said “band together and all go on sick leave at the same time.” That part is the issue. That’s conspiring and constitutes a labor action.

[u/just_an_ordinary_guy → u/TractorDrawnAerial]

Yeah, that's why people need to make sure their illegal labor actions can't be proven.