530-993-4379
Sierra Booster
  • Home
  • Newspaper
    • Latest News
    • Letters to the Editor >
      • Submit Letter to the Editor
    • Old News Archive
    • Photo Tour
    • Events
    • About Us
    • SUBSCRIBE
  • Advertiser Directory
    • Advertiser Press Releases
    • Website Sponsors
    • Advertiser Area
  • Buy Ads - Services
  • Fishing Report
  • Contact Us
  • Admin Log In

​AFTER A TERRIBLE FIRE SEASONCAL FIRE FIREFIGHTERS RESIST CUT TO WAGES

6/9/2020

0 Comments

 

(2.5% Negotiated Raise Also Taken Away)
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2020
Contact: Terry McHale at (916) 233-5100
tmchale@aaronread.com
 
SACRAMENTO, CA – CAL FIRE Local 2881 President Tim Edwards said, “Our decision to oppose the cut in wages to firefighters is not an indication of any personal disregard for the Governor and the work he has done during this difficult time.  We oppose the cut in wages because it creates chaos within the department and it is fundamentally unfair to firefighters who have been on the front line through the recent historic fire seasons, as well as being first responders to the pandemic, and the range of calls that are made to a full service fire department.”

The Governor is asking that CAL FIRE firefighters – who were just given increased firefighter staffing to bring fire engines to an appropriate level and limit the practice of keeping firefighters on the line for weeks, and even months, at a time – give up a 2.5% raise they negotiated through bargaining and also take an additional ten percent cut in pay. This means a 12.5% pay cut for our firefighters.

“CAL FIRE is already the lowest paid among the major fire departments,” said Edwards.

Consider the facts:
 
  1. CAL FIRE firefighters are among the lowest paid firefighters in the state. We have become a training ground for higher paying local fire departments.
  2. A 10% pay cut for firefighters would put our entry level firefighters under minimum wage.
  3. A 10% pay cut would create compaction within the ranks. This means supervisors would be paid less than those who they supervise.
  4. CAL FIRE firefighters work a 72-hour work week compared to a 56-hour work week for local government fire departments. CAL FIRE already has a retention problem because a veteran CAL FIRE firefighter can start over with a local department and make more money at a lower rank for fewer hours of work.
  5. This 10% cut in pay will result in an inevitable exodus of qualified supervisors from the department. It makes better financial sense for them and their family if the firefighter retires.
  6. Our firefighters have been on the front line, responding to COVID-19 medical emergencies and more than 500,000 calls each year for assistance. The proposed 10% cut is frustrating and demoralizing.
  7. Almost fifty percent of our salaries are paid by the more than 100+ city and county contracts where we provide full service medical and fire protection. Whatever perceived savings this 10% cut will net will be negated by reductions in their payments to the state, resulting in limited savings.
Joseph Q. Ten Eyck, a 35-year veteran with CAL FIRE and a Supervisor Representative with CAL FIRE L2881 said, “This 10% pay cut for firefighters means that it is better for me and my family if I retire now instead of waiting for another fire season.”
###

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    April 2014
    September 2009

    Categories

    All
    2015
    Sierra County News

    RSS Feed

    Vie
    ​w Old News

CONTACT US:

Sierra Booster Newspaper
PO Box 8
Loyalton, CA 96118
Phone: 530-993-4379
Fax: 844-272-8583
Email: jbuck@psln.com

Website Privacy Policy​
Picture
Local Weather
©Copyright Sierra Booster - Sierra County News - Editorial
Website by Chamber Nation