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By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Published Thursday, May 27, 2010 | 1:01 p.m.
Updated Thursday, May 27, 2010 | 2:28 p.m.
Sun Coverage
Contract negotiations have stalled out between the local firefighters' union and the City of Las Vegas, so a third-party arbitrator will be called in to settle the differences, Mayor Oscar Goodman said today.
"It's at an impasse," the mayor told reporters this morning at his weekly press conference at City Hall. "... We couldn't agree."
He said going into arbitration will be costly, although he didn't say how much.
"This is a matter of money, it's a matter of principle, it's a matter of how we're going to do business in the future," he said.
Goodman said that on Wednesday, City Manager Betsy Fretwell hand-delivered a letter to Dean Fletcher, the president of the local firefighters union, about the status of negotiations from the city's point of view.
Fletcher responded today with a letter to Fretwell, "stating that the union has no other option other than to declare an impasse ... and please have your attorney contact the local's attorney to proceed further in the process," Goodman said. "So that's where we are right now."
In a press release issued this morning, firefighters said they thought they had an agreement with the city, but the city walked away from it.
“This is the very definition of an impasse. We have been negotiating in good faith all this time. We are at a point that we do not know how to characterize what is going on,” Dean Fletcher, president of the Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285, said in the release.
Goodman said the next step will be for a process called "fact finding," where an arbitrator will be brought in to clear up disputes between firefighters and the city.
"You can resolve the differences, perhaps in the fact-finding process," he said. "Then after fact finding, if it's not resolved, then you go to arbitration. The arbitration can take up to six to nine months in order to have a resolution."
The city had asked firefighters -- and all other city employees -- to take an 8 percent salary and benefit cut and to give up any automatic cost of living, longevity or step pay increases in the next year.
Because none of the unions would agree to do so, the city council approved a final budget that would cut about 200 city jobs next year and eliminate some services in order to deal with a budget deficit the city says had grown to $80 million for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1.
Negotiators for the city and firefighters thought they had made a deal, but Goodman said when Fretwell told city council members during non-public briefing about it, they couldn't accept it.
Goodman said firefighters made greater concessions than they had ever made in the past.
"From my perspective, it wasn't enough," the mayor said, pointing out he was only speaking for himself. "It didn't address my needs as the mayor. And therefore, at least from my perspective, arbitration is probably the right thing to do under these circumstances."
Goodman said that arbitration, in the past, has usually meant that the employees union came out ahead. But he thinks this time the economic times will favor the city's position.
"We're in uncharted waters as far as the economy is concerned," he said. "And if we don't change our culture, in my opinion ... Then we'll never be able to change it. And I think that it's toppled over and we have to start looking at a new city and a new way of doing business."
Goodman pointed out that there were no firefighters among the 210 city employees who have received notices they would be laid off.
Meanwhile, Goodman said the city staff is getting close to working out a deal the the city marshals' union, who were scheduled to have 12 marshals laid off in July and another 10 in January in the new budget.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to avert those layoffs," he said.
The city marshals union's proposal will come up for a vote next Wednesday at the city council meeting, he said.
He said the city marshals were asked to trim $1.1 million from their budget and they have come to the city with an offer to cut $900,000, he said.
"That's a substantial step in the right direction," Goodman said.
Goodman was asked why all the employee groups were being affected by the job cuts except for the firefighters. He said that as part of the budget process, the city had held 13 town hall meetings, held focus group meetings and taken a survey through UNLV that showed local citizens put public safety highest on their list of city services.
"Basically, the public said their primary interest was to keep public safety intact," Goodman said, "and didn't want to see any modifications take place as far as response times and the like. That was the reason that fire had nobody laid off."
However, the budget will create reduction in firefighters' overtime by scheduling "brownouts" to three fire units a day, he said.
"The fire chief has said consistently that that would not affect response times," Goodman said. "But if we got to a point where there were substantial brownouts then it would have to be brought back to the city council for our approval because, at that point in time, there would have been a potential effect on public safety."
Goodman said in arbitration, each side makes a "best and final offer" and the arbitrator picks one of them.
"It's not something in between. It's not as though one says six and another says eight and the arbitrator picks a seven. It's either a six or an eight. From my perspective, where we are right now, this is the only way it's going to be resolved."
Goodman said that, historically, the city never wins in arbitration. But it's not necessarily bad this time around for the city.
"There's never been a time in our economy like this," he said. "So, I'm saying, if we can't make changes in an arbitration in this time in our economy, then it's going to be business as usual for years to come. And, to me, that's unacceptable."
He said the consolidated tax has been going down for close to three years and an arbitrator will take that into consideration.
Wow big surprise here, the greedy fire fighters union won't budge an inch to help the city and its citizens. Can them all and bring in temps, its been done before!
Good move by the Mayor and the City Council. The seem to have a real grasp of what is going on in our economy.
Its amazing how teachers (who make less than half of what these greedy firefighters make) are willing to take a pay freeze and sacrifice various portions of the budget that will SERIOUSLY effect the outcome of our childrens education and eventually the future of our state, however, the firefighters won't budge. Yes they have a dangerous job and yes they put their lives on the line every day they go to work but they need to look at the big picture. When many firefighters are on the top 50 highest paid employees in the area maybe they can sacrifice some. Perhaps they don't need that top of the line stainless steel oversized BBQ and brand new patio furniture set thats behind the station next to summerlin hospital, then again, maybe thats why they can't take a pay cut, they need something to cook their bacon wrapped filet mignon and halibut on.
fire the damn firemen...
fire them all...
you could replace them in a week...
2 weeks tops...
these community destroyers need to be humbled...
they need to be crushed...
crush them oscar...
Starting pay for any branch of the military is far less, and those jobs are equally if not far more dangerous.
Time to rethink our fire department and the salaries.
We should put it to a public vote... let us choose whether or not they take a pay cut and how much!
Fire every single fireman in Vegas. What pigs. I had respect for them,foolishly thinking they were serving the public. They are only self serving. It will actually be enjoyable to watch the city tear that union apart.
I guess those "endorsed by The Fire Fighter Union" postcards won't be sent out this year by all the politicians.
Maybe the politician who sends out NOT ENDORSED by Firefighters will get the votes!
First of all the FF's are not seeking a pay raise, just like the teachers. The whole process has been all city workers trying to give up wadges, health care and the such all while the city and mayor keep saying nope 8% cut now. The mayor is now saying it should be 10% for all employees. The city is not working at all with the unions, and yes they are supposed to. You might not like it but that is how it works. Oh and why dont some of you ask the mayor how he can justify $25 mill for office supplies for the new city hall but cant afford the employees?
You would have to be a real-life muppet to support the scheming firefighters in this city. Here's one at Zappos-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phSAPVk_F...
"He said that as part of the budget process, the city had held 13 town hall meetings, held focus group meetings and taken a survey through UNLV that showed local citizens put public safety highest on their list of city services."
I wonder what was asked and how it was presented. Of course when asked public safety will be high on anyones list.
However, does that mean the taxpayer should be raked over the coals to have 6 figure ff?
This should be put to a public vote, because it seems alot of our elected officials are in the pockets of the unions. The outrageous pay and benis didn't happen over night.
its funny how the other day 1 article was about the new cardiac care the FF's are doing and increasing the lives they save, and only 2 of you morons comment. The city union boss Mr. King has an article on how much waste the city has and yeah its right in the article on how much they are wasting and moving from one account to another to hide it, and yet again few comments. A ff farts and you all have plenty to say. What a sad sad life many of you live. A bunch of crying little b$#ches you all are!
Mike, apples and oranges. It's nice that the firefighters are adding new skills to the list of things they can do as part of their job. But please note that the training to learn these new skills is paid for by the taxpayers.
It's not as if the firefighters take unpaid leave to learn these skills either.
It's fairly simple Mike. Many firefighters have abused the system, worked the loopholes, and maximized their incomes at the expense of the city budget.
Unfortunately, while these practices might have been invisible in boom times, those times are over, and the abuses are now evident.
Nobody seeks to pay these fine men minimum wages, however, it's time for their salaries to fall in line with what the budget can cover.
It is time to END unionization of public employees. Unions were suppose to protect workers from greedy Corporations. Now they extort the taxpayers. There is no place for unionization of public employees.
First off of course they are going to learn those skills on the job. Just like 99% of all jobs. They need to use it on real patients so that would only make sense. Secondly those loopholes as you call them were all from city leader ideas. They approved the OT they make and base pay. Yes the same ones now complaining. They should blame themselves not just the city workers. As to what the budget can cover, do you think $25 mill is ok to spend on office supplies when the city spent only $400,000 last yr? Times are tough I know.
The union should have negotiation with Goodman you would have been better off.
Did they think Goodman is just going to walk away and do nothing.The Mayor has a job to do with the budget. He will cut your salaries in half and no overtime.The loopholes are closed for the FF.
These are lean times and cuts must be made.
Never enough for the Mayor, his way or the highway. More gin please!!!!
Lay offs, shut down fire trucks, open a Mob Museum, new city hall, new city owned arena, new field for the 51's, free property for everyone who is his friend, the rich get richer, and don't forget the new crocodile farm where old cashman field currently is. The new Reed Wipple Motel where the old Reed Wipple Center used to be.
I need another gin please, not water, gin!!!!
Read it and weep.............
http://www5.lasvegasnevada.gov/sirepub/c...
DMFDRT
Nothing to weep about. I have no problem with the ONE person in charge making that. I do have a problem with every GED'ed fire peasant making that. She works every day, fire peasants work hardly any and hardly at all. Nothing burns dude.
Oh yeah I forgot to say his plans for a crocodile farm. Thanks Dan33. Yeah those native Nevada crocs are something we must spend money. Thanks Oscar for doing what ever you want and buying what ever you want. Its funny how everyone wants the unions contracts open for public debate, but yet he shoved the mob museum, city hall and now he wants a croc park right down our throats. How many of you sat in on those public meetings when he was just tossing our money around? Put the blame for city money issues on the council and the mayor not the employees!
Artswanson
That contract is not up for another year, the mayor will be gone by then. The city only has wanted 8%. They have not had any other just give up 8% and now he wants 10%. That is not "good faith" bargaining. The unions have brought forth many ideas, all being shot down as not good enough for the one city idea of 8-10%. Would you pay your mortgage company more money because economic times are tough? You have a contract and would be pissed if they tried to break it because they say they need the money. In these economic times the mayor should scale back or stop all is projects. Now wouldnt that make sense?
hey mikey...
you can spin it all you want brother...
bottom line...
unemployment is over 14%...
the average community destroying firmen makes 180K...
nuff said...
So birdie, spending money on stupid projects is ok with you. Is that how you spin it? Is that kool aide that good your drinking? If unemployment is that high than why should the city lay off more so they can build a city hall? He wants 8% now and next year because after that the city starts paying for the new city hall. They need to take money away from its employees so they can pay for the new city hall. Yeah that sounds fair. Oh and how much pay has Betsy and Oscar given up? ZERO.
Nuff said...
Mike,
Any way you spin it no one is agreeing with you in any way, shape, or form. Everyone does agree that firefighters have a difficult job, everyone agrees that not everyone can do what you guys (I can only assume you are a ff yourself) do, and people do respect that. As a teacher in the CCSD, I can only say how frustrating it is that we get paid peanuts to try to make a difference in students lives to create a better future for Nevada. WIth all of the cuts that our budget has taken and everything that we are taking away from our system, Nevada is going to suffer terribly in the years to come. The close over $250m in cuts that we have taken over the past two years is NOT because we are upset over not getting a raise, we will be using outdated text books, having class sizes that are so large that the students will not be able to get the attention they deserve in order to learn and develop into educated adults. The students will not learn the life skills that are going to be necessary in order to Nevada's future to function. So go ahead and don't take your share of pay cuts, go ahead and divert the attention to croc farms (which may actually teach something to students), mob museums (teaching at least some sort of the history of this city) and new city facilities (that are probably safer and more up to date with new fire safety codes to avoid a potention disaster where FF would need to be called). It is what it is and everyone needs to sacrifice for the greater good.
City firefighters have sacrificed already and are willing to sacrifice again. Somehow, the city officials think it's not enough. Last year the Firefighters agreed to give up all raises for three years. Kudos... No it's not enough. This year, back at the table... Agreed to give back more than any union in the history of the city... Nope, not enough... Guess what happens next year... Nope not enough. City officials don't want concesions. They want someone to blame when the bills come due. Firefighters made what they made because the officials decided to pay overtime rather than hire... What happens??? Greedy fireman... Meanwhile, we are threatened if we say we can't work by those who are blaming us now. They are miss managing their expenses and don't want to take the responsibility. Guess what folks... They are hoodwinking you, the firefighters, and all city employees. Soon they will layoff firefighters. Guess what... Survival rates on medical emergencies will dramatically decrease, vehicle extrications won't be effcient, fighting fires will be delayed, which will mean bigger fires with more fire fatalities... They will try to tell Joe public that it's the firefighters fault... However, the facts are the facts... We would gladly agree to what they gave metro... But... It's not enough.
BTW I also know that when I decided to go into teaching that I was in no way going to ever be weathy, or even being considered upper-middle class, thats not my goal, nor is that my complaint. I know it was a choice that I made to not go after a job that was going to pay me a fortune, I am just hoping to have a positive and real impact on a students life.
Rebel
I'm married to a teacher so don't try to spin that on me. I know all about what teachers make. You took a pay freeze and we offered the same. We were told it's not enough. I also hope you are in favor of a museum for the blood and crips street gangs. It's no different than the mob. Mayor wants to glorify them. And the croc farm. It's is not needed. To teach the kids? How about taking that money and putting it back into the schools. Oh and there are plenty that agree with us ff's. You might think that everyone is againts us but we get plenty of angry citizens each day talking about their dislike of the mayor and council.
Rebel
Dont believe everything you read... We have given... Are willing to give (like I said earlier... Give more than any union now or in the history of the city)... However, it's just not good enough. Our offer was a greater sacrifice than what your union is being praised for. The politicians are playing politics with the firefighters. They decided not to hire and to FORCE us to work overtime. That decision, not our contract, is what made our salaries what they were this past year. Now, they have rejected cuts that are greater than what they have accepted from others. Our average firefighter is making around 22/hr... Do the math on the hours you have to work to make what is seen in the paper. When you do your calculation start time
and a half at 56 hrs per week because that is what we agreed to in our contract. The politicians play is to reject, reject, reject... When they decide to layoff blame the firefighters contract and layoff negatively effecting public safety. However, they will dodge the blame by pointing the finger to the firefighters. Stay informed, don't believe everything you read. Especially from the propoganda journal. If the mayor had his way the average firefighter in the city would make 17 an hour. Good luck retaining highly skilled, highly trained individuals. Once the economy recovers they would run for much better paying jobs elsewhere.
BRAVO Mike51500!
It really sux for FF now, because of a few who abused the system, not all are that way.
All the facts have not been provided to the public and unfortunately the employees cannot reveal in fear of their jobs (some departments had employees sign an agreement on whom not to talk to and what not discuss). Pretty sad! Everything is so OVER EXAGGERATED and not even clost to reality.
Remember all the all the salaries posted? Most at the top of the list are NOT union employees. They are the executives and management who are NOT giving up any of their salary or bonuses (not frozen either cause it is in their contract! Oh they are not losing their jobs either!)
All you Union haters, yes they are definately not perfect, but remember the unions are who got laws passed to protect all employees in all jobs whether union or not.
All and in all it is a politcal power struggle where only the employees suffer.
Maybe this will help. Listen up. FF's did not create this problem in Las Vegas, which seems to be worse than everywhere else. Again, WE DID NOT MAKE THIS HAPPEN. Stop blaming us for the woes of the world, I know it's easier that way, but stop, my god! You are on a very tiny bandwagon in spite of what you read here. Who's fault. Try your drunk mayor. A leader is judged by how effective they are in bad times, not good. Well here we are ..........How's Oscar working out for ya?
LAS VEGAS FIREFIGHTERS OFFER CUTS VALUED AT $7.3 MILLION
Las Vegas, Nev. -- City of Las Vegas Firefighters offered cuts in their compensation package that were worth more than $7.3 million to the taxpayers of Las Vegas. City Manager Betsy Fretwell, who was the authorized negotiating agent for the city, accepted the agreement wholeheartedly, but city officials simply reneged on the agreement.
"I have been involved in good faith negotiating with the city for more than 17 years," said Dean Fletcher, president of Firefighters Local 1285. "Negotiating in good faith means exactly that, you come to the table in an open and honest fashion and try to work out differences. We did that. Our work was accepted by their appointee. Congratulations were expressed by the City Manager for our willingness to negotiate for the good of the city, and then a few days later, we are simply told our work, our concessions were not enough.
The firefighters proposals were breakthroughs in that they not only called for reduction in pay and other concessions, but firefighters are bringing new, increased money to benefit City of Las Vegas taxpayers. Firefighters are working smarter and faster to generate an additional emergency transport per rescue unit per day. The work will not only generate an additional $1.6 million in revenue to benefit city taxpayers, it will help save lives. City of Las Vegas Firefighters are among the leaders in the nation in successful treatment of heart attack patients. During the past several months, as part of a pilot program, City of Las Vegas Firefighters have managed a 40 percent recovery rate among the heart attack patients they treat and transport. Statistics on recovery from heart attack from private ambulance firms pale in comparison.
"When taxpayers ask, what do their dollars bring them; they should know that the answer in the City of Las Vegas is measurable life saving results due to fire-based emergency medical service. That's not just because of our hard work, but because of the good, progressive efforts of city officials as well," said Fletcher.
Con't
Con't
In total, City of Las Vegas Firefighters were willing to accept a zero percent cost of living adjustment (just as they did last year) which amounts to a $3 million savings to taxpayers this year alone. Firefighters are also willing to accept a 100 percent uniform allowance in 2011 for a $900,000 savings; along with two health trust deferrals for 2011 amounted to $432,000 in savings. Taxpayers would see a trust payment reduction with a yearly value of $1.4 million. Any new hires to the Fire Department would see a reduction of salary by 5 percent compared to normal beginning pay. Firefighters wanted to help lower overtime hours by increasing "rover" positions from six to 10 percent -- an additional 24 positions to defer overtime at city discretion. The contract would be extended for a year with reopeners for medical, wages, and uniform allowance. The city would not seek a request for proposal to privatize EMS. Savings to the city for fiscal year 2011 will be $2,736,000 from concessions, $3 million cost savings from normal roll-up costs used by city not occurring, and $1.6 million in EMS transport fees from less than 600 members of Firefighters Local 1285.
Croc and Mike, don't bother explaining. They don't and will never comprehend. Notice how no one has offered an alternative plan. What would they rather have...a trained professional or Tiffani and Brandon who just graduated from the FF volunteer academy? You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Love you both and wish you well. Not there physically anymore but in spirit!!
STOP WITH THE WHINING ALREADY!! You think it's unfair that police and fire are making great salaries with great benefits...GO TAKE THE TEST! Go through the hiring process. Sit for the interviews. Go through the academies. Get a job with the p.d. or f.d. and shut up! These men and women provide a service. They keep you safe. They save your life. They do it while putting their own lives in danger. And when you call 911 for something stupid, you don't get a bill. When you call 911 for something important, you don't get a bill. Because it is a public service. You pay for it in your taxes. So what you're saying is, these people don't deserve to be payed well? These people don't deserve to have good benefits? Police and fire are highly trained public servants...more so than probably most other public positions. You want a piece of the pie? Apply. If you don't like it, get out...open up a job for someone that needs it.
In the private sector where i work they will fire the fat paycheck and keep the skinny one, in a matter of a few days.Nothing new but a good reminder in time of crisis.
croc1, I have a copy of the County FF contract, do you know if a copy of the city contract is online anywhere?
Union Firefighters are a funny lot. Not taking a cost of living adjustment when the actual cost of living in Vegas is going down doesn't mean much to the average person here. Really is that the best you can do? And deferrals just means you are owned but will take it at a later time. Yeah what a big sacrifice.
Also, why would you have a clause to have the city NOT seek a request to privatize EMS? That's part of the problem with you guys and you just don't get it. Frankly Firefighters should be doing just that. FIGHT FIRE! We can allocate all that extra money and hire more people at a much lower salary for all the other services you currently provide.
And who cares if NEW Firefighters get a 5% salary reduction. You guys rig the system with coordinated overtime, sick leave anyway. Especially towards retirement so that you can all retire with a FAT check. You guys are so disgusting to allow fraud like that to go on. The best thing to happen with the Internet age is the flow of information and now we all know what you guys are like.
On a final note. The very fact that 100's of QUALIFIED people would happily line up for every Firefighter job opening is proof enough that you guys are WAY overpaid. The MARKET dictates what you should make but you and your greedy Unions overvalue yourselves and it seems you'll do anything to keep it that way. Really, Unions have NO place in public service. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
If Oscar spent 1/2 as much time fixing the broken financial structure of Las Vegas - than he spends staring at old photos of Tony Spilotro and swillin dry gin - We might get these greedy firefighters under control. We need a Reaganesque response to these out of control union thugs - Do your job, accept a very decent wage (40-70k) OR YOUR GONE!
Don't think your skills are that unique or special - You could replace the entire FF brigade in 6 months! There are plenty of paramedics, RN's and military veterans with 85% of the FF skill-set ready to go to work! Let's get a prehire list going JIC these clowns continue to bankrupt our city.
Well folks it is a good time to make sure you have extra long garden hoses front and back. extra fire Extinguisher's all around the house maybe two or three in each room. call Mr.Dean Fletcher, president of the Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285,and tell him OVER PRICE WATER BOYS they will none longer be needed just take what,the Mayor and City Manager Betsy Fretwell,The city had asked firefighters -- and all other city employees -- to take an 8 percent salary and benefit cut and to give up any automatic cost of living, longevity or step pay increases in the next year.INSTEAD OF Firefighters 210 LOSING THERE JOBS IT WILL BE 600 AND ALL WILL BE TAKE A 10 PERCENT NOT 8 PERCENT REDUCTION IN PAY ALL OTHER City workers WILL STAY AT 8 PERCENT. better call your union boys and girls we are getting tied of being ripped off .... Las Vegas and Obama work hard and work fast offer on the table is a short time. Thank you, Friendly Citizen's Advice
Wow, the firefighters are not doing themselves any favors from their comments here.
It is apparent they just don't get it.
Well everyone, it looks like it will finally come down to an outside source to decide what will be. Maybe this should have been how it was done from the beginning. I'm just glad this whole thing will be over.
------------------
emvance-
I'm sure you read that we offered $7.3 million in concessions. Including eliminating OT, which would bring all of our salaries back to our base, in my case $83k a year. Apperently that is not enough for you, or the city council. Of course Metro offered less than half of that and it was excepted with open arms. Kinda reminds me of a witch hunt, eh.
So if you decide to arm yourself with extra extinguishers and extra long hoses and your experience fighting fire to protect your family and property, I wish you good luck. But please don't try and talk your friends or family into following you down such a ridiculous and dangerous path. Does the saying, "cutting off your nose to spite your face", mean anything to you?
Although I'm sure if something ever did happen, you would be on the phone dialing 911 as quickly as you can. And rest assured we will respond as quickly and professionally as we have always done. With you and your families well being our main priority.
I believe the majority of people on here don't understand there is 4 different fire departments in the valley. They all have different contracts and are all at the table simultaneously. The City firefighters have taken 0% raise last year and have already agreed to 0% this year and next. There is no make ups or push backs that is a seperate fire contract not ours. We have offered additional concesions amounting to around 7.1 million. No make ups, nothing deffered to a later date zero... Still not good enough. We also attempted to make it more attractive for the city to hire more firefighters by making it cheaper for new hires. This would reduce or eliminate the overtime thus cutting significantly into the current employees take home pay. If they accepted this contract and hired additional firefighters the average firefighter would take probably around a 30% Take home pay cut. These are the facts... However, still not good enough.
The next time emvance needs a fireman or paramedic, let's see if he turns them away. Based on his opinion, he should be able to heal himself or put out his own fire.
Dont hate because they make more than you......you could have applied just like them!
Did you hear that? There it goes again. That's the faint sound of an old air traffic controller wanting to come back to work for less pay. Hey FF, hanging as One will not make you well hung but will make you all hang.
"Goodman said that arbitration, in the past, has usually meant that the employees union came out ahead. But he thinks this time the economic times will favor the city's position."
What's that saying about doing the same things again and again but expecting different results?
The union will win the arbitration.
The City Council will be able to "save face" because it was "out of their hands".
The only thing these Elected officials seem to be able to negotiate is the political process.
I love all of the people on here who hate firefighters. Apparently they could never pass the written test, physical requirments, DRUG TEST or BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. If they could, they would be doing the job that they say is SO easy and SO overpaid.....wouldn't they? Firefighters have taken an OATH to abandon THEIR family during a disatser to protect YOURS. You people that criticize them are a JOKE! Don't you ever wonder why the two newspapers in this town don't ever publish what firefighters earn per hour? Because it isn't that much. The City came up with the idea of tons of overtime to save training and insurance costs. Firefighters who choose to work 70 to 80 hours a week are not your enemy. They are making a large annual salary by basically working two jobs, and actually SAVE taxpayers money this way. Get the facts and educate yourself before you continue with your ignorant comments such as believing that the city pays for firefighter's food. Go apply to be a firefighter. If not, quit complaining. The firefighters have offered 7 million dollars in concessions to help the city pay for a new city hall and mob museum, $350-400 million right there. Have any of you whinners offered to give the city any additional money to help out during this "budget crisis"? Yeah, I didn't think so. You are all talk. You are a bucnh of Obama Socialists that think if anyone makes more money than you, then they must be evil and you must be a "victim".....right? I'm sorry that you want to re-distribute the wealth of everyone who earns more than you. You really are a victim and uncle Obama's gonna give you some free money, so just sit there with your satellite dish and spinning rims until someone gives you mo' money. Why should you have to work 70-80 hours a week and risk your health like a firefighter when the gubment could cut their pay and pay for your cigarettes, booze, gamling and tatoos for you?
Hey Rebelgrad02, First of all Firefighters work 2-3 times as many hours in a year as teachers do. Teachers earn 45k a year for working a part time job while firefighters earn 77k for working 56 hours a week for a FULL YEAR. Does exposure to carcinogens and the stress of dealing with life and death emergencies at 3 AM shorten teachers lives by 5 YEARS over the general population as it does with firefighters? I have nothing against teachers at all, but you can't compare the two. What is is like to have the whole summer off, every holiday off, and winter and spring break off? What is it like to be home EVERY night and tuck your kids in? BTW, the firefighters won that patio furniture with a raffle ticket that they bought to support a charity, so it didn't cost you a dime. Don't let facts spoil your day though. Maybe you have a point about that bar-b-q though. That is probably what broke the city budget, not the $350 million for a completely unneeded city hall or $50 million for a mob museun that we don't need. When you are unemployed and need a place to stay maybe Oscar will let you sleep in the mob museum or the new city hall? BTW the city has budgeted $42 million for new furniture for the new city hall, because that old stuff just isn't good enough. But you are right, we'll auction off all of the fire station bar-b-ques tomorrow and fix the whole 'budget crisis'.
Do you even realize that the laborers building the new city hall will be paid 2-3 times what firefighters earn? Are you sheeple outraged about that too? Of course not, because you haven't had a newspaper attack them every day for two years. Wake up and educate yourselves and THEN form an opinion.
-Peace Out Hommey's
The firefighters would be better served if they have better public relations.
For now, the vast majority of citizens,those who pay the way, are unmoved.
I am just curious, are the Firefighters going to take the same "accepted" offer in to the negotiations with the arbitrator?
You guys need to realize that making the cuts and taking that in to the arbitration is the only way to win the PR war.
Anything less than real savings being offered by your union will put you at risk of being viewed by the public as if you guys/ gals just don't care.
nobody here has disputed that the firefighting profession is an honorable one.
it is those among your own ranks that have brought discredit upon your reputations in this city.
if you aren't involved in gaming the system, you HAD to know about it. nobody believes any of you are that stupid.
and as far as feeling good about saving a life. that is exactly why firefighters in other major metro areas do their jobs for less than half of what those of you who game the system take home.
what you fail to understand is that ANY job is supply and demand. here in LasVegas you so-called "professional" firefighters expect the public to respect you as heroes, when the fact is you have a relatively safe job, with benefits unmatched on this planet, and you get paid more than 98% of wage earners in this country.
police officers, professional fishermen, lumberjacks, taxi-cab drivers, and convenience store clerks ALL have a much more dangerous job than being a LasVegas fire"fighter". and that is just a few of MANY professions that are more dangerous than yours, but pay FAR less. and MOST of those jobs are NOT TAXPAYER SUPPORTED.
do you not think you can be replaced?