r/Firefighting • u/RustyShackles69 Big Rescue Guy • 4d ago

General Discussion New union contract is disappointing/dangerous

Im not going to give too much info since who knows who's reading this and can track it back to me. I saw info on the changes to our contract, and to say my jaw dropped is an understatement. I can't for the life of me understand how the city can think its okay to try and count chiefs toward maning and use a nearby jurisdiction's 2 man apparatus as emergency staffing.

I get it. We work alot of ot, but another officer in a pickup doesn't help us on a fire scene in the same way as a 3rd or 4th on an engine.

Well survive we are cowboy company and have made small staffs work so far but the city is gaining population not losing people.

Also, shame on the old men running the union prioritizing the dollar bills paid over obvious nfpa safety concerns. I guess the city will wait til people die and they get sued to make changes.

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u/GetOuttaTownMan 4d ago

Same boat. 2 man engine companies paid department with 120k pop and 6-7 k annual calls. Old heads always say “we’ve always made it work” but god forbid we have a LODD the NIOSH report will have understaffing as the number one preventable cause. Not to mention it jeopardizes the lives of the people we’re here to protect.

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u/Goddess_of_Carnage 4d ago

I had my first chief point out to me—there are 20 people willing to fill your spot.

At a not insignificant point, I told him he best be getting them hired, cause I’m not stupid and not going to participate in stupid, meaningless nonsense any longer. And “the union” you sold as disgruntled guys that didn’t want to put away their gear or shine their shoes—just gained a spokesmodel. So, replace me if you’re so inclined but I’m calling out the bullshit. Starting yesterday.