Mack72
02-23-2004, 01:19 PM
Is this quote accurate? Are CT unions enforcing this more than the rest of the country?
"We really haven't seen too many cases like this around the country," he said. "It's a very troubling trend in Connecticut that firefighters are negotiating this into their contracts."
Full article below.
HARTFORD (AP) -- A provision in Hartford's union contract with city firefighters is under attack from several area municipal leaders who object to a ban on career firefighters volunteering in their hometowns.
Officials in towns such as Berlin, Farmington, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield are seeking state legislation that would strike down the clause in the contract between Hartford and the International Association of Fire Fighters, The Herald of New Britain reported Sunday.
Local officials say the provision would drain their departments of experienced firefighters and make it more difficult to keep trained volunteers.
"What we are looking for is an awareness on the part of legislators that this is happening and it could negatively affect the volunteer fire service," said Farmington Town Council member William Wadsworth. "We are training these volunteers and the larger paid departments are benefiting from that."
The contract approved last year between Hartford and the fire fighters prohibits Hartford career firefighters from volunteering in their hometowns during their off-duty hours. It takes effect in 2008.
Scott Brady, secretary-treasurer of the firefighters union, said the clause protects the city from losing firefighters to injuries sustained outside the job and to heart disease and hypertension.
"The city spends a lot of time and money training these people and they spend a lot of time dealing with the chronic illnesses that go along with the job," Brady said.
About 20 of the union's 380 members would have to stop volunteer firefighting when the clause goes into effect, he said. The firefighters may still lead training sessions and participate in volunteer functions other than fighting fires, Brady said.
Local departments will have time to recruit new members, hire a full-time fire service or a combination fire service of career and volunteer firefighters, he said.
"If you look at the truth of the matter, there are standards for paid firefighters that aren't in place for volunteers," Brady said.
Craig Sharman, a spokesman for the National Volunteer Fire Council, said his organization is watching Connecticut closely because the dispute could have implications for volunteer fire departments around the country.
"We really haven't seen too many cases like this around the country," he said. "It's a very troubling trend in Connecticut that firefighters are negotiating this into their contracts."
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
"We really haven't seen too many cases like this around the country," he said. "It's a very troubling trend in Connecticut that firefighters are negotiating this into their contracts."
Full article below.
HARTFORD (AP) -- A provision in Hartford's union contract with city firefighters is under attack from several area municipal leaders who object to a ban on career firefighters volunteering in their hometowns.
Officials in towns such as Berlin, Farmington, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield are seeking state legislation that would strike down the clause in the contract between Hartford and the International Association of Fire Fighters, The Herald of New Britain reported Sunday.
Local officials say the provision would drain their departments of experienced firefighters and make it more difficult to keep trained volunteers.
"What we are looking for is an awareness on the part of legislators that this is happening and it could negatively affect the volunteer fire service," said Farmington Town Council member William Wadsworth. "We are training these volunteers and the larger paid departments are benefiting from that."
The contract approved last year between Hartford and the fire fighters prohibits Hartford career firefighters from volunteering in their hometowns during their off-duty hours. It takes effect in 2008.
Scott Brady, secretary-treasurer of the firefighters union, said the clause protects the city from losing firefighters to injuries sustained outside the job and to heart disease and hypertension.
"The city spends a lot of time and money training these people and they spend a lot of time dealing with the chronic illnesses that go along with the job," Brady said.
About 20 of the union's 380 members would have to stop volunteer firefighting when the clause goes into effect, he said. The firefighters may still lead training sessions and participate in volunteer functions other than fighting fires, Brady said.
Local departments will have time to recruit new members, hire a full-time fire service or a combination fire service of career and volunteer firefighters, he said.
"If you look at the truth of the matter, there are standards for paid firefighters that aren't in place for volunteers," Brady said.
Craig Sharman, a spokesman for the National Volunteer Fire Council, said his organization is watching Connecticut closely because the dispute could have implications for volunteer fire departments around the country.
"We really haven't seen too many cases like this around the country," he said. "It's a very troubling trend in Connecticut that firefighters are negotiating this into their contracts."
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)