THE NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 140 is balloting its 1,400 members with a vote of no-confidence of their Fire Chief Stephen Halford.

Chief Stephen Halford
(WSMV photo)

Publicly, their grievance stems from the Chief’s plans to eliminate 49 FF positions in order to fund the addition of three more ambulances to the EMS service.

“They’re very, very upset,” said Doug Conquest, president of Nashvile Firefighters and Fire Service Employees Association Local 140. “We’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. We (cut back) a division to increase another division.  We feel like in the long term this is going to affect the safety and property of Nashvillians in Davidson County,” he said.

Local 140 president Doug Conquest

The union had a proposal for a way to save the money without eliminating the jobs, but the city would not listen to their options.

Chief Halford says the outcome of the vote won’t have an impact on his job or budget plans.  He says it’s simply a way for the union to voice it’s dissatisfaction.
 

The ballots went out in the mail this week and they should be returned and counted by the end of next week.

WTVF Ch. 5 has a good report on the situation HERE.

WZTV Ch. 17 interviews both Chief Halford and Pres. Conquest in this video report:

Firegeezer notes that while this seems to be an extreme reaction to budget cuts, there is usually a lot more behind the grievance besides the public declaration.

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