Problems in BFD with shift-swapping

[grumpy grizzly]

According to today's Boston Globe (Boston.com) there is a problem with shift-swapping. Several members are on the hook for many shifts that they swapped out with other members and never re-paid the favor. I am sure someone a lot smarter than me can post the site.

 

[patrickfd]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/30/system_that_lets_boston_firefighters_swap_shifts_a_costly_free_for_all/

 

[mack]

Most of this article is based on claims and projections allegedly made by a few individuals and most likely leaked by the jerk who is commissioner who is not respected by BFD members and who was totally unqualified to be a fire commissioner in the first place.  He is a retired low-level Navy officer without any fire experience or management experience other than the military.  (Not to knock our military, but this guy had no credentials to even be hired into a fire department let alone lead one.)  He has not supported his firefighters and has constantly undermined members and chiefs.  No one even talks to guy in the department. 

BFD worked for years without a contract and its members and its union was the target of the meyor and the media for the past few years.  BFD could not fight a fire or rescue a civilian without the newspapers including something negative.  Pure politics.  The recent arbitration ruling in favor of the union brought more negative press.  This is another example.

There may be abuses with members who stiff their buddies.  That should should take care of itself, brother to brother.  Maybe BFD needs an accountability policy - the commissioner should be responsible for not having a policy, if needed.

How can anyone know how many shifts have been swapped and not paid back for?  Most of this stuff is not based on any data.  There is no accountability.  Jakes cover for each other all the time. 

If a few individuals are banging in sick and abusing the system, they should be dealt with individually.  The entire department should not be blamed to compensate for weak leadership at the top.

Past history when BFD lost a LT due to bad maintenance (budget cut):

Boston Firefighters Local 718 President Ed Kelly announced at a press conference

"A unanimous vote of no confidence" by the membership of Local 718 in
Boston Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser. Commissioner Fraser has
failed to lead this department and is responsible for the inadequate
fire apparatus that frequently breaks down and his constant lack of
respect for the firefighters of this city.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

I had 4 uncles on the job in Beantown. One was shot and wounded during the welfare riots of 68, another was a senior fire alarm operator. I viewed this article with a lot of sckeptism. I know guys swap off shifts all the time. Ironically my uncle who was shot had swapped off with another member at the members request. Later that night there was a fire and collapse, AKA the Trumball Street fire, the member he swapped out with was killed. I do not understand how anyone who let someone accumulate that many shift swaps, after awhile I would say" Assole how about pulling your own weight." I posted the article for discussion's sake. 

 

[nfd2004]

Most of this article is based on claims and projections allegedly made by a few individuals and most likely leaked by the jerk who is commissioner who is not respected by BFD members and who was totally unqualified to be a fire commissioner in the first place.  He is a retired low-level Navy officer without any fire experience or management experience other than the military.  (Not to knock our military, but this guy had no credentials to even be hired into a fire department let alone lead one.)  He has not supported his firefighters and has constantly undermined members and chiefs.  No one even talks to guy in the department. 
  BFD worked for years without a contract and its members and its union was the target of the meyor and the media for the past few years.  BFD could not fight a fire or rescue a civilian without the newspapers including something negative.  Pure politics.  The recent arbitration ruling in favor of the union brought more negative press.  This is another example.
  There may be abuses with members who stiff their buddies.  That should should take care of itself, brother to brother.  Maybe BFD needs an accountability policy - the commissioner should be responsible for not having a policy, if needed.
  How can anyone know how many shifts have been swapped and not paid back for?  Most of this stuff is not based on any data.  There is no accountability.  Jakes cover for each other all the time. 
  If a few individuals are banging in sick and abusing the system, they should be dealt with individually.  The entire department should not be blamed to compensate for weak leadership at the top.

  Thanks very much Pat for posting that. And I sure agree with EVERY Word that "mack" and "Grump" says. Although I really don't know who this so called leader is. If there's problems, he's responsible. "Don't blame a whole group of people" because of the "actions of a few". Even in the small dept I was in, we had a policy regarding shift swaps. It was also spelled out in our contract. As the man in charge, I blame him. How did they get that many shifts behind anyway.