"Maybe We Shouldn't Have…."
UPDATE: Additional entry posted. Scroll down.
THE MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, BOARD OF ALDERMEN suffered a pang of responsibility Tuesday night and voted to re-hire some of the nine firefighters that they laid off last year in an effort to keep the non-essential services active. This past Thursday the result of their past action came to the public view when a four-alarm fire created more damage than they had saved and scared the alderman for that district into making a motion to bring some firefighters back to work by lifting a hiring freeze and authorizing the fire chief to use unspent overtime funds to refill four positions.
This apartment fire jolted the local Alderman (WMUR-TV image)
After the Board passed the measure 10 – 4, the mayor immediately vetoed the bill. A quick re-vote overturned the veto 11 – 3 and the measure stands.
WMUR-TV has the story HERE. and this video report:
Manchester Fire Department WEBSITE.
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IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, THE FIREFIGHTERS Local 108 has filed a lawsuit against the city, the mayor, and the fire chief for violating their valid labor contract. WWLP-TV reports:
According to (Local president Michael) Hatch, in July of 2011, then-Mayor Mary Clare Higgins had frozen the wages of firefighters in the local. Under their contract, firefighters were supposed to have their salaries increased in a series of "steps" based upon their years of service, with eighth-year firefighters receiving the highest pay level. Hatch says that the city’s action to freeze this system had violated state bargaining and wage laws.
"The city has a legal obligation to pay incremental raises as a firefighter gains more seniority and experience," Hatch said. "The city has disregarded this obligation."
Hatch told 22News that the city had promised to negotiate with the firefighters, but nothing has happened so far.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in Hampshire Superior Court, the union local is seeking withheld wages, legal fees, three times the amount of damage withheld, plus interest (something that is required under state law if a government is found to be violating labor laws.) Hatch said that they also want assurance that this will not happen again.
The Hampshire Gazette has the details of the conflict HERE.
WSHM-TV interviews Local president Hatch who explains what's going on in this video report:
Northampton Fire Department WEBSITE.
Local 108 WEBSITE.
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THE BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA, HAS FOUND OUT that they may owe most of their firefighters some back pay in the amount of $615,450. Recently the mayor had his staff investigate allegations that a 2008 pay raise was administered incorrectly resulting in the firefighters being short-changed.
It hasn't been disclosed how the mayor and city council were tipped off, but the situation arose first when the former fire chief instructed that the payroll be configured improperly. It's a complicated situation, but KMSS-TV Shreveport does a good job of sorting it out HERE.
Firegeezer comments that it is commendable that both the city council and the mayor immediately took remedial actions to correct this once they found out about it. After watching this video report from KTBS-TV you will no doubt agree with me:
Hat tip: Mark D. and Nate A.
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