What's More Important To You?

[Berdoo Beau]

Criminy! Just received The Boss' notice on potential layoff's vs. pay cuts and other options yet to be resolved. It seems that of the three options The Chief gave The City - they're looking at an amended Option #1, the lightest hit. That equates to a potential layoff of 10 P-1 firefighters (or more if things go further south in the next couple of months). The bottom line is that we, the department, have to negotiate to arrive at the final result. It's possible for us to parlay an agreement to have our paychecks altered in lieu of layoff's. This requires consultation between the Union, the Staff and the City.

Now it comes down to our ability to make the Brotherhood (sisters included) stand for everything we have talked about in this very forum. I, for one, would rather take a hit in the wallet than watch one of our own leave with shoulders slumped and no clear vision of the immediate future. I couldn't take that. Could you? Is money in your paycheck more important than someone ELSE getting the axe? Could you honestly look one of our own in the eyes and say, "My paycheck is more important than your job" ? We need to speak up and lay claim to this situation. We need to be clear on our thoughts and direction.

What say you?

Bill

[desertmedic]

Beau, I'm with you.. All for one and one for all. I too would rather take a cut then to see my workmates, my friends get kicked the the proverbial curb. But then again, Im one of the older guys that still have a semblance of cammeraderie (sp) with the guys and gals I work with. Unfortunately, there are some that have the IGM attitude. Then there are others that have just gotten in so deep over their heads financially with "toys" and such that they cant afford to take a cut. I wont even go on about that since theres a thread dedicated to that. The next few years are really going to test our profession and people as a whole. I can only hope my, our kids, when they get to our age, are as happy and financially smart as I have been along the way.

The other day I was in the galley eating lunch with the boyz. We were watching the news and all the bail out shenanigans that our leaders are proposing. I shook my head and popped off with "we are watching the death of capitalism." So true unfortunately. When my folks immigrated to the states from Germany in the mid 50's it was surreal my dad said. He'd seen a lot growing up under Hitler and in post war Germany. You work an honest days work and you'll do okay he told me. He came here with 5 bucks in his pocket and ended up owning a printing business in Whittier. We werent spoiled but we never wanted. I always looked up to my dad... Still do to this date. Just never wanted to be a printer. I was on the phone with him today and we were talking about the state of the economy and our "Robbin Hood" leaders. I told him Joe Stallin is chuckeling in his grave.

Okay, Im done ranting. Hope I didnt offend anyone. If I did, too bad... Theres been alot of American blood spilled for that privelage. We still live in the greatest nation in the world. Its just not as good as last week.

Stay safe out there folks.


Greg

[maddog411]

I'm with you Berdoo. I am so sorry to hear about cutbacks for you guys. If you guys let 10 firefighters go, it will take so many years to get those positions back. But it is not worth letting guys walk, so if you guys have to take a hit in your salary or benefits in order to save jobs = so be it.

I feel sorry for the guys running scared.

The big question is however, if you take a major pay cut this year in order to save people. When does it stop? What if you have to take another cut next year, then the next? Do you allow your pay to get cut in half in order to save jobs?

[Livin' in GOD's Country]

Well Berdoo Beau, you probably know how I feel. However, for the rest of you I cannot say more then Berdoo Beau said. Like desertmedic said, lets put aside our own wallets and minor financial problems and save the jobs, no CAREERS, of our brothers.

As for the cuts continuing in the future, there is always that possibility, but for this cut, it is actually coming out of our benefits and not our wages. Our wages are calculated by a Charter amendment and that is whole different story if they go after that.

[illdaddy]

You guys are being too general. Who is cutting what? Where? Is Berdoo ... San Bernardino City, or County or what?

[Livin' in GOD's Country]

San Bernardino City is proposing 10% deduction from benefits and 10 positions from the Fire Department. The 10% is citywide for department employees. Hope that helps you, sorry for the vagueness earlier.

[DeeDub]

I agree, I would much rather take a pay cut than see my broz get laid off. I didnt think that sort of thing would happen in that city. You guys need everyone you have. If it ever happened in my organization I would hope that they could trim fat in areas way before it hit the floor. I dont wanna see anyone lose their jobs. But we are the ones in the trenches, people are still going to get sick, light things on fire, crash their vehicles...

Good luck guys be safe out there

[ladderpiper]

Sorry to hear about the San Bernardino City lay-offs. The state has started to cut back major also. this whole thing sucks for everyone.

[GirlMedic03]

Sorry to hear that as well. You guys at san bernardino fire seem pretty busy. I guess one of the LAco stations in El Monte may be closing down. I never thought that would happen.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Second jobs are always an option to make up for your cut in pay, the rest of the nation's firemen typically supplement their paycheck with a second job, whether it be in a related field or not (AMR is always taking on dedicated part-timers ;) ) Regardless, you do what you can to avoid that uncertainty that your brother sitting in the seat next to you may have to face to support their family.

The fire service is a family, through good times and bad you should be there for the guy next to you without question, and what better way to show it than sacrificing a few bucks...or quite a few for some... to keep someone from having to wade the waters of the current economic storm alone.

The IGM attitude is not option in any facet. We're all here to serve our community, our family, and each other.

[fyrglfr]

I'm with you Berdoo. I am so sorry to hear about cutbacks for you guys. If you guys let 10 firefighters go, it will take so many years to get those positions back. But it is not worth letting guys walk, so if you guys have to take a hit in your salary or benefits in order to save jobs = so be it.



Man you could have played DB in the NFL with your back pedaling skills. I could have sworn you were the guy who said you wouldn’t take a 10% pay cut to save jobs in your dept........Milk toast