r/Firefighting • u/space_cowboy78 • 6d ago

General Discussion Volunteer department wishes to merge with us.

Good day all, recently a volunteer department (at least their trustees) have approached our fire board about them merging into our fire district. We are just solving our own problems with full time staffing, better pay/benefits, equipment, etc.

This department in question is WILDLY unprofessional. When we show up to their fires they won’t go interior as they will literally hand you their hose line even though they’ve been on scene for 10-15 minutes. Not to mention they have a sexual predator and several other members who protect said predator.

I feel like all of this and other unknown things should be made known to the public and/or our fire board. However I’m not comfortable with doing so due to us not being unionized. Nor do the majority of our guys want to become unionized.

To me it seems like a recipe for disaster and I want to look out for the great guys we already have. Currently I’m the most senior full time firefighter and I feel like it’s my responsibility to do what’s right but we don’t have protection from a union. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

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u/seltzr ? אש 6d ago
  • Bring your concerns to your line officer or chief and ask it to be passed along?
  • Send an email anonymously or go to the press?
  • Consider a collective group statement to the appropriate leadership?

Do you believe the board of trustees will take your desired course of action? Anyone can approach them with anything.

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u/space_cowboy78 6d ago

The fire board has their regular business meeting (open to the public) last Wednesday. To me it seems like they’re doing a favor for the trustees and not the benefit for the community or any members.

It just seems super sketchy to me. As for talking to my officer, we’ve had several conversations about this issue and the consensus on our shift and the others is that this will not end well.

I highly doubt our fire board will listen to us because the former fire chief referred to us as “a group of fucking monkey’s” multiple times.

16

u/seltzr ? אש 6d ago

Go through a proxy that can speak at the meeting such as a neighbor or partner (different last name) without fear or retaliation.

If only there was a way to get collective protection…

4

u/space_cowboy78 6d ago

Currently the majority of our full time members will vote no for a union. It’s doesn’t make sense especially when it usually makes things better.

10

u/FordExploreHer1977 6d ago

Then they will get what they get. The union is the voice of the members against the voice of the administration. Without it, it’s just the administration’s voice being heard. This is a political issue, which Unions are well versed in. Your membership would likely benefit in many ways by unionizing. But that is essentially up to your co-workers. As it stands, it sounds like your administration has all the power to make any change they want. The voice of the workers isn’t needed, wanted, or heard, which tends to be just like how administrations like it.