Who runs your department? The Chief or the union?

[DrParasite]

I was talking to a career Lt/volunteer Asst. Chief at my ICS 300 class as to whether or not his department went on EMS calls. He told me that the Chief had tried to do that 10 years ago, but the union said no. It then became a dead issue. So the chief said to do something, the union said no, and the chief just let it go.

So my question, if other departments, who runs the department, the chief or the union?

[MemphisE34a]

Not the union. Not necessarily the chief. Our current Chief of Department actually seems to be trying to make some headway through the rest of the cities BS bureaucratic process, prior to that the fire department seemed to kinda be on auto-pilot with many issues never being addressed by anyone.

[DaSharkie]

One of my career departments that I was on, the union ran it. Ran it hard.

If the chief wanted to do something, they filed a grievance on it. New equipment and all.

The chief seemed to have given up after a while because he just seemed to not want to fight it anymore, of course he retired a year after I left, so I think he was just biding his time too.

[gunnyv]

How about the union locals that work with the Chief on improving service to the citizens, while fighting the Chief when his administration tries to screw someone? We went from not running medicals and 1 medic on the dept, to ALS engines and 60 medics within a 10 year period. We worked with the administration to pass a millage to pay for new stations, rigs, and manpower.

What do we fight about? When the Chief takes a rig out of service and sends it-and it's crew- to a parade out of town without replacing the manpower. When they refuse to follow the contract and notify members of shift changes in a timely manner. When a probationary FF gets hurt on the job, and they make him work light duty in Dispatch midnight to 0800. I think, in our case, the Chief runs the Dept and the union makes sure he doesn't run it into the ground.

[E229Lt]

Seems like the media are the only ones who get anything changed around here.

[outofstep]

Seems like the media are the only ones who get anything changed around here.

or ray kelly

[cellblock]

Here the Chief is the department. There is no Union and Chief is the guy in charge.

[cozmosis]

When our local sees an injustice, we're very vocal about it. The chief, of course, runs the department... but we're the biggest and most vocal supporters of it. During budget talks this year, the chief was able to score only one additional firfighter's position while the police department was given two. We thought a second position was key -- it would give us 15 and allow even distribution of personnel among shifts. So, we became heavily involved in the politica process. Next year, we'll be getting two new firefighters.

Attend a city council meeting in our town. You won't see public works laborers there. You rarely will see police officers there. You will almost always see firefighters there. The city is looking to build new police and fire stations. Last week, there was an important meeting to discuss land acquisition. Half of the membership of Local 4453 was in attendance. Not a single cop was. Our influence comes not from some union power... but from constant involvement in the process.

Prior to our affiliation with IAFF, we were just as strong. When I was hired, I was the fifth career firefighter in the city. We were the step-children in a Department of Public Safety. Through the efforts of a handful of firefighters and key citizens in the city, we pushed for the first-ever city sales tax to fund separate police and fire departments. It won on the backs of firefighters. We don't claim to be more powerful than anyone else... but there are few as dedicated.

[Weruj1]

around here it is the Chief ...........the Union doesnt get to involved.

[MemphisE34a]

gunnyv & cozmosis:

Both very well said!!

[captjab]

Chief.....wellllllllllll..mayb e the Deputy Chief.....lol....yea the Deputy Chief.

[hfd66truck]

The Chief, with 'guidance' from the Union! :cool:

[TruckSkipper]

cozmosis
When our local sees an injustice, we're very vocal about it. The chief, of course, runs the department... but we're the biggest and most vocal supporters of it. During budget talks this year, the chief was able to score only one additional firfighter's position while the police department was given two. We thought a second position was key -- it would give us 15 and allow even distribution of personnel among shifts. So, we became heavily involved in the politica process. Next year, we'll be getting two new firefighters.

Attend a city council meeting in our town. You won't see public works laborers there. You rarely will see police officers there. You will almost always see firefighters there. The city is looking to build new police and fire stations. Last week, there was an important meeting to discuss land acquisition. Half of the membership of Local 4453 was in attendance. Not a single cop was. Our influence comes not from some union power... but from constant involvement in the process.

Prior to our affiliation with IAFF, we were just as strong. When I was hired, I was the fifth career firefighter in the city. We were the step-children in a Department of Public Safety. Through the efforts of a handful of firefighters and key citizens in the city, we pushed for the first-ever city sales tax to fund separate police and fire departments. It won on the backs of firefighters. We don't claim to be more powerful than anyone else... but there are few as dedicated.



gunnyv
How about the union locals that work with the Chief on improving service to the citizens, while fighting the Chief when his administration tries to screw someone? We went from not running medicals and 1 medic on the dept, to ALS engines and 60 medics within a 10 year period. We worked with the administration to pass a millage to pay for new stations, rigs, and manpower.

What do we fight about? When the Chief takes a rig out of service and sends it-and it's crew- to a parade out of town without replacing the manpower. When they refuse to follow the contract and notify members of shift changes in a timely manner. When a probationary FF gets hurt on the job, and they make him work light duty in Dispatch midnight to 0800. I think, in our case, the Chief runs the Dept and the union makes sure he doesn't run it into the ground.

What a novel concept! Imagine the Union and the Fire Chief working hand in hand as the Fire Dept. to improve the safety of firefighters and those we serve. Imagine also an organization sticking up for it's members when they have been dealt an injustice........

It's been this way around here since 1934.

[SamuelFire]

The chief runs the dept here within the confines of Federal and State law, city policies and fire department rules and regulation. The chief is not right in all of his decisions however, he is not wrong in them all either.

When he violates one of the proceeding guidelines, the union calls him on it and works to correct it.

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

I APPLAUD THIS MAN.
Massachusetts Fire Chief Rejects Pay Raise


Updated: 12-23-2005 05:22:32 PM





RICK COLLINS



The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE - The official record will show that town meeting last night rejected pay increases for three town department heads. But the real news was a pair of impromptu statements by Police Chief Paul Frazier and Fire Chief Gerald Kenney that were ultimately rendered meaningless - at least fiscally - by the final vote.

With labor contracts the dominant theme at last night's special town meeting, the chiefs took to the floor to turn down proposed pay hikes they had coming to them, out of respect for their contract-less employees.

Moments after town meeting rejected new contracts for the town's clerical workers and department managers - some of whom work for the police department - Frazier asked the assembly to strip language from the article granting him a $2,065 salary increase.

"It would be extremely selfish of me to take a pay raise when my employees didn't get one," he said. "I'm not trying to be a martyr, but until my employees get one, I don't think it's fair for me to get one."

Kenney did the same. Members of Braintree Firefighters Association Local 920 have been without a contract since their last one expired 18 months ago.

"I would prefer you gave my pay raise to my firefighters," he said. "They put their lives on the line every day."

Kenney also was in line for a $2,065 raise.

The gestures received loud applause from many in attendance.

While amending the article as the chiefs requested, town meeting members also removed the town's public works director from the list of department heads to receive raises.

Selectmen last week voted unanimously to not renew the contract of public works chief John McMahon.

Despite the chiefs' actions, the article, which would have given $1,406 raises to the town clerk, tax collector and accountant, was defeated after it failed to garner the two-thirds vote needed for passage.


What a refreshing story. A Chief who stood up for his firefighters , using ACTIONS instead of only words. Thank-you from a proud IAFF MEMBER

[hfd66truck]

That's what kill me about the internet...the guy 1500 miles away from me finds an Article about a Town that is 50 miles away.

Nice Article Mikey.....I know a couple guys in Braintree, I'll pass along your thoughts if a talk with them.

[Dave1983]

I APPLAUD THIS MAN.
Massachusetts Fire Chief Rejects Pay Raise

What a refreshing story. A Chief who stood up for his firefighters , using ACTIONS instead of only words. Thank-you from a proud IAFF MEMBER

Good for him!

At the other end of the spectrum is our Chief. While we took $0.00 this year to try and help the department through some "problems", the Chief took $6,000.00. :rolleyes: :(

[PFDTruck18]

Neither the Chief or the Union runs our department but in ways they both run it. What Im saying is this. For a Chief to decide that his department start making EMS calls would basically require a change in job discription or atleast working conditions both of which are protected by the Union. The Chief just cant decide today that he like plowing streets or picking up trash and make the members do it, it must be bargained. The inclusion of EMS response will dramatically increase call volume and therefore stress on the members which SHOULD result in an increase in wages. More Duties = More Money. The Chieft does run day to day operations of the department which includes enforcing the OPs and Directives and as such is seen as "running" the department. It all depends on how you look at it.