Archive for August 5th, 2014

Chicago FF contract passes city council

Politics Early & Often has an article on the city’s approval of the new CFD contract:

Chicago will get a dramatic upgrade in ambulance care — and firefighters will get $32 million in back pay — under a five-year contract approved Wednesday that opens the door to even higher pay raises.

The agreement ratified by the City Council guarantees 4,645 firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians an 11 percent pay raise over five years, but ends free health care for those who retire between the ages of 55 and 65. After Dec. 31, those retirees will be forced to contribute 2 percent of their annuities toward the cost of their health insurance until they’re eligible for Medicare.

The pre-Medicare fee for retiree health care was one of the only givebacks Mayor Rahm Emanuel was able to wring out of Local 2. The mayor came up empty on his laundry list that took aim at treasured union perks such as holiday and duty-availability pay; clothing allowance; pay grades; premium pay; non-duty lay-up coverage; the physical fitness incentive; and the 7-percent premium paid to cross-trained firefighter-paramedics. Nor did the union agree to Emanuel’s plan to have “double houses” — stations with both engines and trucks — to be staffed by nine firefighters instead of 10.

All 15 of Chicago’s basic-life-support ambulances will be converted to advanced-life-support, giving Chicago 75 ambulances capable of administering the most sophisticated level of care. The decision to end a two-tiered emergency medical system that paramedics have called a dismal failure follows investigations by Inspector General Joe Ferguson, WBBM-TV and the Better Government Association. All three concluded Chicago needs more advanced-life-support ambulances to consistently meet response-time standards.The 15 basic-life-support ambulances are expected to be converted to advanced in September.

The 11-percent pay raise is only a “floor.” If the Illinois General Assembly mandates a pension contribution higher than the current 9.12 percent, the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 can negotiate an even bigger pay raise.

Workforce Development Committee Chairman Pat O’Connor (40th) has acknowledged that the contract’s $80 million pricetag is almost certain to rise “if the state [pension] law changes—and we anticipate that it would.” But he rose on the City Council floor to praise Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 for coming to the bargaining table in good faith and avoiding the financial wildcard of interest arbitration, where the cost to Chicago taxpayers could have been even higher. O’Connor noted that it’s the first time in recent history that firefighters have settled their contract before Chicago Police officers.

The $32 million in back pay is already tucked away in the mayor’s 2014 budget and will not require additional borrowing. It must be paid within 75 days of next week’s final City Council vote.

thanks Dan

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Fatal fire in Cicero, 8-1-14 (more)

More on the fatal fire in Cicero 8-1-14. Images from Gordon J. Nord, Jr. and radio traffic from Steve Redick.

E-ONE tower ladder at night fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

E-ONE tower ladder at night fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

E-ONE tower ladder at night fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

E-ONE tower ladder at night fire scene

Gordon J. Nord, Jr. photo

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New ambulances for Chicago (more)

Enterpriseflorida.com posted an article in February about U.S. Ambulance Corporation in Florida:

On February 13, (FL) Governor Rick Scott visited U.S. Ambulance Corporation in Winter Park to meet employees and celebrate the expansion of the facility.  In addition to the 473 employees already in place, the expansion will add 126 new jobs and infuse $2 million in capital to the Central Florida region.

The expansion of the Winter Park facility will solidify U.S. Ambulance Corporation as the largest single site manufacturer of ambulances and rescue vehicles in the world. Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), the parent company of U.S. Ambulance, began expanding the Winter Park facility in 2011, and U.S. Ambulance has since acquired several key brands including Road Rescue of South Carolina, and McCoy Miller and Marque of Indiana.   ASV is also the parent company of E-One, a fire truck manufacturer located in Ocala.   When the growth is complete, ASV will employ almost 1,300 team members statewide and report a payroll in excess of $55 million.

U.S. Ambulance now manufactures under the names Wheeled Coach, McCoy Miller, Marque, and Road Rescue.  The expansion will allow U.S. Ambulance to extend their product offerings throughout the U.S. as well as the Caribbean, South America, Middle East and Asia.

thanks Drew

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