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A week or so ago, firefighter and fire department political action committee chairman Ken Campbell wrote a pretty condescending letter to the Enterprise Record, insinuating that anybody who criticized the fire department would change their mind if they just came down for a tour of a fire station.
He says, “In the last month there have been a few letters to the editor criticizing the response of the emergency services within the city of Chico, particularly the Fire Department.” But I looked, I never found any letters to that effect. What I did find were comments regarding the fire department budget, the contracts and the excessive amounts the city is paying for the “employee’s share” of the benefits.
Stephanie Taber brought up these points in her response to Campbell.
“Reference Ken Campbell’s (Chico Fire Dept.) letter of December 1 which invites the public to visit a Fire Station and talk with any department member so we the public can better understand their mission.
I think the public knows fairly well what the department’s mission is; what we don’t understand is why it costs us so much. Of the $13 million dollar Fire Department budget $11.5 million is spent on salaries, holiday pay, overtime, gym fees, wellness physicals, and “other” benefits. That “other” category includes Fire personnel’s share of their pension retirement benefits. Why are we paying that 7% when we already pay the employer (taxpayer) share? Why are we paying the employer AND employee share of FICA from the date of hire till retirement? Why are we paying $350 each month, tax free, for every Fire Department employee toward their retirement medical from the time of hire till retirement at 50? Do you know how many more firemen we could hire if just that one part of the department’s benefit package were eliminated? Then add to that the Fire Department employee’s 7% share of their pension benefit and I’ll bet we’re talking about being able to fully staff the Fire Department and the elimination of all that overtime.
The City Manager should invite Chief Berry to discuss Fire personnel’s job responsibilities. And I’d like to invite the IAFF to explain why the 47% (low income earners) should continue to pay the top 1% (Fire Dept. personnel) incredibly generous benefit package.”
To which local liberal shoofly Ron Sherman responded, “I guess you have a rather selective memory. The current contracts are successors to those approved by the conservative Chico City Councils dominated by Rick Keene and Larry Wahl, so that they could secure the endorsement of the fire department.” Sorry, Ron, again you are confused – Larry was the only one who voted NO on that contract. It’s up for renewal right now, and our “liberal-dominated” council is about to give it the old rubber stamp, three of them having already approved the same contract, two others sure to follow their mentors on to Perdition. That’s five to two – SWOOSH! And, I’m betting Morgan will also sign the contract, he’s already made it clear he’s up there to represent “the public safety ‘workers'”.
I couldn’t find the contract now up for consideration – I think it’s buried somewhere on the city website – if anybody can send me a link, I’d appreciate it. But, here’s the current contract:
http://ebookbrowse.com/iaff-mou-pdf-d33663777
You might have to cut-and-paste that link, but it’s worth it. It’s a confusing yet interesting read, just stick with it. For example, I have finally figured out how they manage to rack up so much overtime – some of them as much as double their agreed-upon salary with overtime. For one thing, they are guaranteed a 56 hour week. That’s 16 hours of overtime, given for starters. And get aload of this – every week the captain is supposed to determine whether or not he’s going to need a firefighter to work his overtime. Or, get ” Compensated Time Off in Lieu of Overtime“. That means, instead of working and getting paid for an hour of overtime, the firefighter can take time off, at a rate of an hour and a half off for each hour of overtime. And, at the end of the year, the firefighter can exchange his unused CTO for pay, again, at a rate of one and a half hours pay for every hour of CTO accrued.
Yeah, you better read that again. I’m not sure, but it almost looks like they’re getting an hour and a half for an hour, and then getting an hour and a half for every hour of that. For example, 4 hours of overtime becomes six hours of CTO, and then each hour of that CTO is worth an hour and a half of pay? What?
What I understand loud and clear is, they get paid for overtime they don’t even work, overtime that is scheduled in UNNECESSARILY. Simply to guarantee a fat salary.
In his insulting little letter to the ER, Campbell suggests “The department would welcome the opportunity to answer all questions and explain what citizens receive for .41 cents a day. If you are unsatisfied with the answers you receive, then write a letter to the editor and state your opinions with credibility because you actually did some homework and tried to gain complete understanding.”
Well, I did my homework, Ken, and now you got some explaining to do alright.
UPDATE:
Well, just when I got around to complaining about that section of the fire contracts, it has already been changed.
(I can’t post the link, for some bizarre reason, you have to go to the city website, hit the bar at the top of the home page that says, “How do I…” and then choose “Get city salary/benefits information”, then choose “Labor Agreements” from the menu at the left. And you thought you’d never find a needle in a haystack!)
The section I”m referring to above is almost cut out of the new contracts – they’ve completely eliminated the section that says “exchange his unused CTO for pay at a rate of one and a half hours pay for every hour of CTO accrued.” They don’t call it “compensated time off” anymore, they call it “compensating time off,” which means, they get the time off but don’t get paid? I’m still wondering there.
But, they still get 16 hours of scheduled overtime, and can exchange it, for whatever reason, for an hour and a half of (paid?) time off for every hour of overtime they actually work. They are certainly getting paid for time they aren’t even at the station (grocery shopping with the hook and ladder?!), much less “working”. And then, if there’s a need while they’re on CTO, another firefighter is called in, probably on overtime him/herself.
This is left to the discretion of the chief. Yeah, Chief Beery, the guy who closed Station 5 because he was pissed at the city for cutting his budget $90,000.
This is the scam through which some of these people as much as DOUBLE their agreed upon salary with overtime, still crying for more hires. I’m still asking Ken Campbell – why does the fire department get guaranteed overtime, even when it’s not needed? Why can’t the fire department be staffed just like any other 24 hour business?
Tags: Ann Schwab Chico CA, Chico Firefighters Legislative Action Group, City of Chico Ca, International Association of Firefighters, Ken Campbell Chico Ca, Mary Flynn Chico Ca, Mary Goloff Chico Ca, Scott Gruendl Chico Ca