Acting... And I don't mean the Hollywood kind

[FRN-FFS]

Wondering what your department's stance is on the use of "Actors" to fill vacancies of another rank. For example, can a firefighter "Act" up to the rank of Engineer or can a Firefighter or Engineer "Act" up to the rank of Captain?

If "Acting" is an acceptable practice in your department, what qualifications are required of the member? Manipulative test, skills sign-off's, positioned on a promotional list, etc... Are there any rules as to how long can the individual act (partial shift/full shift), how they are selected (seniority, list), is acting mandatory (do members have a choice) and do they get paid (full shift only, hour for hour)?

If you have a constant staffing agreement does "Acting" play a role in your agreement? Can an idividual "Act" before someone is forced back? Do the same qualifications stand? Does your department have a vacation relief pool integrated into your staffing? Does the department use "Actors" to decrease overtime in rank?

Your input would be much appreciated.

Thanks......

[DHICK]

From a So Cal Dept... "Position for Position" this is the ideal way to run operations... But if this cannot be the case based on drawdown, Retirements, terminations, illnesses, or just a family emergency we will use actors! The acting rank is the last resort! But just as a Deputy IC on a management team or Assistant safety officer @ a trench rescue the actors must be "QUALIFIED" Our method of doing this involves successful completion with 70% or greater on the appropriate testing process (Capt or Engineer). This does a multitude of things... But primarily gives the subordinates of that position the comfort of knowing that there is a "QUALIFIED" person sitting in that seat.
My dept runs a "position for position shop" so the only way you will get an acting shift is if all the in rank Persons turn the OT down or one of the isolated circumstances mentioned in the beginning of this
Once You pass the promotional exam and qualify to "act" you get placed on a list just as normal overtime does based on "either test score"(if there published) or "seniority" (if it’s a ranked / pass-fail test). This list is independent of the overtime tracking system for your own rank. So in theory you can be the last engineer up for in rank overtime, and the first acting captain up for captain’s overtime. Either way after a few O.T. shifts as an actor is all equals out anyway.
If You ACT you get PAID 10% + OT!!!! The other caveat is that you are the last resort for acting on your own shift... Always try to fill with others from the list!! You don’t want MGMT to get in the habit of bumping up "cheaper" personnel and backfilling "yet cheaper" lower step lower rank personnel.

Clear as Mud HUH….. Hope it helps….. It does work tho…

[lvladder1]

In the City of Las Vegas you can only ACT if you are on the current promotion lists. You can do this with your own crew if they're down with it. That means the Captain has to ride backwards while his medic or fireman plays bossman. The same rules apply if you're on the Engineers list.
You can also sign up for overtime as an ACTOR but will only be assigned if someone else is going to be force hired.
Overtime ACTING also includes OT plus one pay grade (5%).

[HB of CJ]

Used to be (30 years ago...ancient history) one could act in a higher capacity if he met the qualifications. As an example, a FF could act as an EN if the FF had been "certified" in all aspects of operating the apparatus, pump and/or powered ladder. There was no extra "acting pay". It was "acting time". Had to be on the job three (3) years to act. It was considered an honor. It was based on being qualified and the shift senority. You could turn it down only once. Then you never were asked to act again. Good bye promotions.

The certification process from FF to EN took about 40 hours and included both written tests, a pump test (very difficult) a mother of all driving tests and spotting and raising the ladder 6 times. Lots of times we aspiring young FF's would pay an ancient EN to come in on his day off and we would take out a reserve apparatus (engine, ladder, squad) and drive around all day learning the tricks of the trade. On duty, we usually (not always) did not have the spare time to learn.

A FF had to be certified and on the job five (5) years before he could take the Engineer's test. By that time, we usually had many shifts of acting time. The more you had, the better you tended to do on the oral exam. My old outfit, the Bakersfield City Fire Depatment was still an I.S.O. Class 1 department then and we had a lot of old fashioned ideas as how things should be. Long ago and far away.

Now I understand that with Constant Staffing Managment, a FF can be a FF one day and be promoted to EN the next day and HAVE ZERO ACTING TIME AS AN EN!! How is such a thing even possible? Oh, he may be "qualified" to drive and pump, but where is the experience? AUUGHHHH! For saving a few bucks in staffing costs, all sort of bad things happen. How may traffic accidents has YOUR department had that can be traced to no experience? :) :) :)

[Shorttimer]

We only have actors for short time details, meaning a 3-4 hour release for department related purposes. Our union goons get 8-10 hr. releases with actors covering. Our union has taken a strong NO position on long term actors. We have constant staffing and will promote people as necessary.