Stockton Firefighters Denounce City Manager's Refusal to Issue Layoff Notices to Firefighters
City blocks firefighters' ability to obtain new employment
STOCKTON, Calif., June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stockton Professional Firefighters, Local 456 denounced the refusal by Stockton's City Manager to issue layoff notices to 48 firefighters identified for potential layoff. In an unusual appeal, firefighters requested that the City issue layoff notices as soon as possible so that the affected 48 firefighters could place themselves on the California Displaced Firefighter List.
"It's appalling that the City Manager would refuse to issue layoff notices that he knows the City has every intention of issuing to Stockton Firefighters," said Dave Macedo, President of Stockton Professional Firefighters, Local 456. "Our members are simply seeking an opportunity to find employment to help support their families. What's going on is despicable. We are confident that if given the opportunity our Mayor and City Council will show compassion to our firefighters and order that the layoff notices get issued."
The State of California maintains a "Displaced Firefighter List" that local fire agencies use to hire trained, professional firefighters to help meet their hiring needs. In order, however, to be placed on the list, a firefighter must have received a formal layoff notice or have had their position eliminated. Several local agencies are hiring from the list now. Until the City of Stockton issues formal layoff notices, firefighters cannot be placed on the Displaced Firefighter List. Based on City layoff policies, if the City does not issue layoffs by June 15, it will not be able to do so again until July 1, 2011.
Stockton Firefighters have made several requests to City negotiators for the layoff notices to be issued. However, city negotiators have insisted on unnecessary and unrelated contract changes prior to issuing the notices. The proposed budget by the City Manager already identifies up to 48 firefighters for layoffs. Both Local 456 and the City have agreed that layoffs are inevitable.
"Stockton Firefighters have agreed to remove all staffing restrictions from its contract in negotiations beginning July 1," Macedo stated. "We've given the City all the flexibility it needs in order to go through with layoffs and to achieve significant overtime savings related to staffing. This move to block issuing layoff notices is wrong, its petty and its exceptionally mean-spirited. We are appealing to our Mayor and City Council to intervene to help our families."
Stockton Professional Firefighters, Local 456 remains engaged in contract negotiations with the City of Stockton. To date they have submitted offers with significant concessions including creating a 2nd-Tier Pension for new employees, and contributing significant pay towards pension, medical and retiree medical benefits. Even though the Stockton Fire Department is approximately 28% of the City's General Fund, the City Manager has tasked the Department in providing 50% of the savings to solve the City's $37 million budget deficit. Over the last three years, Stockton Firefighters have provided over $18 million in savings through voluntary concessions and imposed cuts.
SOURCE Stockton Professional Firefighters, Local 456
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