Recently, Houston Fire Department union members rejected a deal negotiated by their leaders and Mayor White.
Most media coverage hasn’t really gone into much depth why members rejected the deal, and the Chronicle even wrote a nasty editorial yesterday about the HFD members that reads like a Tim Fleck special — plenty of smear and condescension, but not much fact.
In the interest of providing a little balance, here’s a comment left by an apparent Houston firefighter to an earlier post:
Fire fighters voted down the Labor Contract Offer. If we could line item the contract we would have. The reason it was a NO vote is because it impacted Fire Fighter and Public Safety. Minimum Manning means 4 assigned to heavy apparatus at all times, not just when it is convenient. The City wanted Fire Fighters to agreed to lower this standard mandated by City Council in 2001. The key is we had to agree. If we agree then we cannot gripe about it when the COH cuts manpower. Another sticking point is an hours increase. They want to add 5-24 hr shifts to our schedule. Thats equal to 120 addtional hours. In the private sector that is equal to 15 working days is it not? We said no! The City gives us Accrued benefit leave. The problem is we can’t take much of it. If we call in sick we must go to a Doctor and get an excuse. No matter what our health issue was, we must go to the Doctor and we must do it five days. If one uses COH medical benefits one must see a Doctor in the Renaissance Group or at Kelsey-Seybold. Do you know how hard it is to get a Dr’s appointment in five days. If the paperwork is not turned in on time the employee is docked. Thats the way it is now, without a contract. In this Contract the COH wanted to punish us even more for using these benefits. They want us to agree to termination. Not likely. If any employee in the private sector causes property damage or loss of property belonging to the employer that employee is terminated. Possibly sued. At least they get a day in court. If we signed this contract we would agree to reimburse the COH up to $3000. No mechanism in place to determine who is at fault. We are currently capped at $250 per item.
Would it have been that hard for local media to find a Houston firefighter to explain that perspective as well as our commenter?
Actually, it’s not too late for any reporters who’d like to do some good journalism.
