Providence, RI Fire Dept in Chaos

" But here is where the new changes take effect. The current hourly rate will actually be about $14.00/hour for a Providence firefighter. The rate is actually $21.00/hour, BUT you work 56 hours and actually get paid for 42 hours."

Wow ! This is all entirely confusing. Either the Rate is $14.00/hr. for a 56 hrs., or, it is $21/hr. for 42, But it can't be Both Rates; it's either / or.
At Any Rate - I'm quite certain that it is Illegal in the United States, to Work 56 hrs, and be Paid for 42. The Providence F.D. would most certainly
not be eligible for Federal Grant $$ if Paying FF's for 42 hrs., if it is actually a 56 hr. work week.

If the Union, in its Contract with the City, agreed to Work at a specific Rate of Pay per hr., and the City then increased the Hours worked
per Week without paying at the Contractually agreed-upon Rate, then the City is in Violation of the Contract, a matter to be taken up either in Court, or Re-negotiation of the Contract.  :-\
 
STAjo.


The issue is in court and I cannot help but  think that the city owes the troops overtime for everything over 42  hours even if the standard shift is 56 hours.  Of course whatever the court rules, one side or the other will whine and appeal.  The firefighters also have to take into consideration the 8% raise they got.  That will lower the overall payout they will get.

Willie  I doubt the recruits are going to be working a 56 hour week.  That would mean 7 hours a day 8 days a week and even the mayor and the pare can't work that out.

We all have to remember much of the Senior Staff has been gutted to maintain the field forces Chief's job (non union) were eliminated to give raises, and  benefits to the rank and file through negotiations.  this also kept companies open and increased the number of EMS units.

It will be interesting to see the contracted report and see if they recommend closing companies and reducing staffing of the remaining unit.  Regardless of the number of companies it is imperative for a congested city like Providence to have at least 4 members on each unit.

While Providence may well have to many companies 12 and 6 would work in place of the 14 and 8.  the trouble is that someone long ago very strategically placed the station so that while the first area might not be impacted, third due engines and second due trucks will have incredibly long runs.  As a hypothetical.  Suppose Ladders 4 and 6 were tapped out of service.  I can say Ladders 8-1-3-7 can covet those first due area, but pray tell who would be second due truck at Smith and Academy.  Whoever it is will have to stop for fuel on the way out there.  Even NPFD would be a long run.


The saga continues.
 
As it stands, today the Providence FD is a mess.

Everybody has left who could have, including the most senior members and chief officers.

They are short about 80 firefighters

Everyone is working far in excess of the scheduled 42 hour work week

If the firefighters should eventually win their case as their contract states a 42 hour work week, the city will owe those firefighters millions of dollars in overtime. It will surely break the city.

  I believe the equipment is starting to get old.

  This is a city fire department that was once considered the best in New England. They had been responding to medical calls long before most other cities in the northeast thought about it. They have been one of the most aggressive fire departments around. As I see it, the Providence Fire Dept has been a leader for years.

  As a firefighter from Connecticut, I would often get some great ideas from Providence and bring them back with me. Those ideas would even reach Bridgeport as I would pass them onto my brother, a firefighter there.

  Today, all because the Providence FD would not endorse the current mayor, these Providence Firefighters are paying a steep price. But the reality is, it is the same people who put that mayor in office who are paying the full price if those firefighters win. Let alone the fact that their own safety could be put in jeopardy for the fact that some firefighters are currently ordered to work much more than they should. 
 
I would dare to say the stations are beginning to fall apart due to lack of preventative or any other kind of maintenance.  Other than HQ I would dare to say the last time any significant funding was given to station maintenance was back in the 90's

I would guess you all know about to two stations where a fire watch had to be posted.

>:( :(
 
Latest word on the Providence in Chaos is the hopes of a new contract have FAILED.

The mayor and the city counsel are at war now because the mayor caused this problem. They know that this is going to cost a fortune and "The Mayor Owes it".

The longer this goes on the worse it looks.

A new contract was supposed to be signed on November 1st, but that will NOT happen. Meantime, the department is short one quarter of its assigned strength and all battalion chief officers and above are ACTING.

  In addition, the Providence Firefighter Probie School last about 4 months. No one has been hired yet and no background checks or medicals have even been given.

As a buff I spent a lot of time in Providence. What a GREAT DEPARTMENT this was. It is in chaos now.
 
This article came out in January (2017).

Providence Fire Dept is set to hire 80 new firefighters. In a department with a total assigned strength of about 360 firefighters, roughly one quarter will be new probies. Equal to almost to one entire shift. Meantime the current firefighters must continue to work numerous extra hours as they are required. This problem will exist for many more months to come.

This began when the mayor decided to force the Providence Firefighters to go from their 42 hour work week to a 56 hour work week. He did this through NO Contract talks at all. The mayor claims his plan was to save the city money, while MOST Firefighters feel it was a "payback" for the firefighters union NOT endorsing him for mayor.

The end result was a department in chaos. Senior and experienced chiefs, officers, and firefighters have left. Many of them who would have stayed. In addition the city now must repay all those Providence Firefighters the overtime they rightfully deserved.

Of course the mayor blames the firefighters for all of this. But the firefighters and much of the public blames the mayor for creating this chaos.

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170127/providence-poised-to-train-80-new-firefighting-recruits
 
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