CLEVELAND HEIGHTS FIREFIGHTERS

WEWS NewsNet 5 Cleveland Heights turns down federal money

2010-08-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

19 Action News, Grant Gone!

2010-08-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

How did we get Here?

2010-08-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

We received an email from a citizen, who received one of our informational pamphlets at a local festival. She wanted to know more about how we got to this point in the relationship between the city and the firefighters. It was a wonderful email and we appreciate her time to write to us. However, she noticed that our pamphlet did not depict a favorable impression of the city government and felt that we may be concealing some facts as to what has transpired historically in our attempts to help the city save money. Of course we want to add as much information as possible and let the citizens know what is going on and decide for themselves, “Who is right?”.

Below is a timeline of events based on conversations and meetings with the city:

2/26/09. City asks for a one year contract extension with no raises. Union agrees to a one year contract extension, but wants a guarantee on minimum staffing. We do not want layoffs.

3/16/09. Letter from the City stating that minimum staffing is a management right and they will not negotiate on this item. (even for a 12 month period and an agreement to a salary freeze!)

3/23/09. Union asks to negotiate non economic issues. City says no, they want a one year contract extension with no changes.

10/28/09. Mediation meeting yields no agreement. City offers the union a 4 year contract with raises of 0, 0, 0, 0. Union agrees to accept a one year contract extension with a 48 hour workweek being awarded on 1/1/10. Contract negotiations to begin immediately for a new 3 year contract. City rejects union offer.

12/14/09. City and union go to fact finding. Fact Finder recommends a one year contract extension until 3/31/10. City and union agree to go to binding arbitration.

4/29/10. Arbitration hearing.

5/19/10. Arbitrator awards firefighters a 0, 2, 2% raise. All other points awarded in favor of the City.

5/20/10. The day after award is presented, the union goes to the City and offers to take a 1% raise instead of a 2% raise. Union also wants a 48 hour work week. This counter offer would save the city money.The city rejects this counter offer. After these raises, the firefighters are still the third lowest paid firefighters of comparable cities in Cuyahoga County.

6/30/10. The city returns a federal grant worth $458,000.00 that would have allowed the city to hire three new firefighters, all expenses paid, for the next two years and reduce the amount of overtime the city spends. It was enough time and money to assist the city during the current and projected financial crisis. The grant was written, in good will, by members of the firefighters union in an effort to help the city financially.

7/26/10. City lays off 3 firefighters and demotes 2 Lieutenant’s to firefighters, claiming economic reasons. City states that they cannot afford to pay the awarded raises.

7/29/10 A/C Reese states that reductions in force will cost the city approximately $190,000 in overtime during the remainder of this year. A/C Reese also stated that the City will use this self-created overtime expenditure to justify further cuts at a later date.

City Excesses: The city is claiming that they cannot afford to pay firefighters, but the facts show otherwise.

The city spent over $6,200,000 on the failed Lee Rd. parking garage.

The city loses over $750,000 a year in operating the community center. Cain Park lost $170,000 in 2009.

The city has spent over $2,000,000 in purchasing vacant buildings in the City. (Hillside Dairy, Yellow Cab Co., etc.)

The City manager’s total compensation in 2008, was $153,386. Mr. Downey retired at the end of 2009; was hired back the day, and now collects both his pension and a salary of $123,251. Mr. Downey is the highest paid administrator of all the cities we surveyed.

Kelley Likes the SAFER Grant..or Not?

2010-08-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

At this council meeting from April Mayor Ed Kelley sounds enthusiastic about the $458,000 SAFER Grant. Why then did they (city council and city manger Bob Downey) refuse the grant? What do YOU think? Comment by clicking on the envelope below.

Cleveland Heights Officials Playing Politics with Fire

2010-08-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today Cleveland Heights is less safe than it has been in years because city officials have slashed the city’s fire department by 10 percent.

The 69 fire fighters and paramedics who remain since City Manager Bob Downey laid off three of them and demoted two lieutenants are struggling to respond to emergency calls. We have been forced to work overtime just to maintain minimum safe staffing levels.

The situation could get a lot worse – and less safe – for the residents of Cleveland Heights if city officials continue to whittle away at the fire department.

It did not have to be this way. The city turned its back on a $458,286 federal grant offered back in March to bring fire fighters back to work. This is nearly half a million dollars that would have been poured into the local economy of Cleveland Heights to keep the city safe and keep people employed.

In an economy like this, it’s foolish not to do everything we can to preserve jobs.

These grants are called SAFER grants because they help local communities keep their residents safe at a time when the economy is wreaking havoc on local budgets. Hundreds of U.S. cities facing similar budgeting issues have accepted $165 million in SAFER grants since the Federal Emergency Management Agency began distributing the money on March 31. Those grants put first responders back on the frontlines, and improved public safety in each community that welcomed the funding – but not here.

Cleveland Heights is less safe because Mayor Edward Kelley and City Manager Bob Downey rejected a federal grant and reduced staffing. They also have acknowledged that more layoffs in the fire department maybe on the horizon.

While struggling to keep the city safe, Cleveland Heights Local 402 has bent over backwards to help the city meet its financial obligations. Last year, Local 402 offered to forego raises for its members in exchange for a promise not to lay off fire fighters or paramedics. The city rejected that offer.

The matter went to arbitration and a ruling was issued granting extremely modest raises. The city responded to that decision by laying off fire fighters and paramedics.

This is poor city management. Public safety should be a top priority for city leaders. Instead they appear to be waging a political war against first responders at the peril of the residents who rely on their fire department to keep them safe.

First responders are breaking their backs to keep Cleveland Heights safe. Every fire fighter or paramedic cut means the department will have to struggle even harder to get to burning buildings in time and with enough resources to save lives and protect property.

The cuts must end because they jeopardize your safety.

Our public officials must stop playing politics with public safety.

Paul Hallisy
President of Cleveland Heights Fire Fighters

IAFF Local 402