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Clifton, NJ firefighters upset at order to remove gym equipment
Is physical conditioning important?
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Clifton firefighters, having just won
24-hour shifts, are angry that they have been ordered to remove
fitness equipment from the city's six firehouses.
"To me, it's pointing more toward harassment than anything
else," Nicholas Marchisello, president of the city's Firemen's
Mutual Benevolent Association, told The Star-Ledger of Newark for
Thursday's editions.
City officials, however, deny that the order by Chief John
Dubravsky was in retaliation for the successful work-shift
campaign.
"No way, no way, absolutely not," Councilman Edward Welsh
said. "We're all adults here. To say that there was anything
vindictive is absurd."
Welsh said the ban stemmed from concerns raised by residents
last year after a local weekly newspaper published photographs that
showed firefighters working out on fitness equipment and barbecuing
on firehouse roof. The grilling was stopped.
Exercise is important to firefighters, Kevin Danielson, vice
president of their union, told the Herald News of West Paterson.
"It's part of our job to be strong and lift heavy weights, but
they'd rather do away with it than put a program together," he
said.
Dubravsky said that with firefighters working 24-hour shifts,
city officials believed they would have little free time for
exercise, noting the firefighters are also responsible for
inspections, training and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
In his directive ordering the removal, however, Dubravsky said:
"The City Council, through the city manager, has expressed a
concern about firefighters becoming injured while using this
equipment, along with the potential for liability against the city
for such injuries."
Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi said that a firefighter who was
injured while exercising could miss time from work and be entitled
to workers' compensation.
Such concerns are not the rule in the state.
Thomas Canzanella, president of the Professional Firefighters
Association of New Jersey, said at least 70 percent of the paid
fire departments in the state have some fitness equipment in their
firehouses.
"There's every encouragement to use this equipment because
fitness is intrinsic to what we do," Canzanella told the
newspaper, adding strength and aerobic conditioning help
firefighters in the performance of their jobs.
A court fight last year, settled by arbitration, allowed the
139-person Clifton fire department to switch to shifts of 24 hours
on duty, then 72 hours off duty. Before that, firefighters worked
two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour overnight shifts over a span
of eight days.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Clifton firefighters, having just won
24-hour shifts, are angry that they have been ordered to remove
fitness equipment from the city's six firehouses.
"To me, it's pointing more toward harassment than anything
else," Nicholas Marchisello, president of the city's Firemen's
Mutual Benevolent Association, told The Star-Ledger of Newark for
Thursday's editions.
City officials, however, deny that the order by Chief John
Dubravsky was in retaliation for the successful work-shift
campaign.
"No way, no way, absolutely not," Councilman Edward Welsh
said. "We're all adults here. To say that there was anything
vindictive is absurd."
Welsh said the ban stemmed from concerns raised by residents
last year after a local weekly newspaper published photographs that
showed firefighters working out on fitness equipment and barbecuing
on firehouse roof. The grilling was stopped.
Exercise is important to firefighters, Kevin Danielson, vice
president of their union, told the Herald News of West Paterson.
"It's part of our job to be strong and lift heavy weights, but
they'd rather do away with it than put a program together," he
said.
Dubravsky said that with firefighters working 24-hour shifts,
city officials believed they would have little free time for
exercise, noting the firefighters are also responsible for
inspections, training and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
In his directive ordering the removal, however, Dubravsky said:
"The City Council, through the city manager, has expressed a
concern about firefighters becoming injured while using this
equipment, along with the potential for liability against the city
for such injuries."
Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi said that a firefighter who was
injured while exercising could miss time from work and be entitled
to workers' compensation.
Such concerns are not the rule in the state.
Thomas Canzanella, president of the Professional Firefighters
Association of New Jersey, said at least 70 percent of the paid
fire departments in the state have some fitness equipment in their
firehouses.
"There's every encouragement to use this equipment because
fitness is intrinsic to what we do," Canzanella told the
newspaper, adding strength and aerobic conditioning help
firefighters in the performance of their jobs.
A court fight last year, settled by arbitration, allowed the
139-person Clifton fire department to switch to shifts of 24 hours
on duty, then 72 hours off duty. Before that, firefighters worked
two 10-hour day shifts and two 14-hour overnight shifts over a span
of eight days.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Mutt mentality at it's finest! 
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