Phoenix Firefighters Take Furloughs to Save Jobs

PHOENIX - Hundreds of Phoenix firefighters have voted unanimously to take a 2 percent pay cut and four furlough days over the next two years to save jobs.

The head of the United Phoenix Firefighters Association Pete Gorraiz (guh-'RYE-us) says the pay cuts will save three engine companies and 42 jobs.

Gorraiz says the Phoenix Fire Department will lose 40 jobs but those will be offset by retirements that will happen by June, meaning that no firefighters will have to face layoffs.

Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan tells KTAR Radio in Phoenix that firefighters like what they do, believe in what they do and want to protect the community and save jobs for fellow firefighters.

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Information from: KTAR-FM, http://www.ktar.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on February 25, 2010 at 9:39am

Everything is possible when both sides are willing to work together.

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Permalink Reply by FETC on February 25, 2010 at 7:49pm

This is interesting. I would suspect PFD has minimum manning on apparatus. Around here a city nearby pitched this to the department, but with minimum manning who is going to fill those seats? Are you asking the brother to volunteer to fill the seat? A furlough in the fire service with minimum manning, means technically you run short staffed that day. If you come to work and volunteer to fill the seat, as far as I know (because we have looked at this as well) it is against the FLSA law. You would not be on the books as working therefore not covered under workmens comp, pension, disability, etc. You cannot be asked to work for free if it is your job.

Now furloughs in a job that doesn't have minimum manning issues, like an auto repair shop, in which the shop can operate without you coming to work.... will work because they are basically asking the employee to take a non-paid vacation while the business is still open.

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on February 25, 2010 at 11:55pm

FETC,

I'm thinking this is a poorly written article and headline regarding the furloughs. Watching the video clip, about the 40 second mark, it states a 3.2% pay cut, which INCLUDES 4 furlough days. So to me, it sounds like it was a pay cut to save jobs and no mention about working for free or affecting minimum manning. What isn't mentioned and perhaps where furloughs may be the case would be the day staff like inspectors, pub ed, etc which may be part of the union.