gamewell45

Walkers recall election has nothing to do with unions and the private sector, which is the topic of your thread.

Probably not. lol

The guy needs t change his dietary habits.

I'm going to have to agree. After posting and thinking about it for a bit, the GOVT should leave it to the individual websites to determine the best policy for themselves. Most people on this site identify themselves anyway. Either by posting their name, or a screen-name that ties directly to them; fake example IFDff355. If they pass the bill it might dissuade some people from posting. I think we should all be encouraging people to post. And you're right. Go fix a real-world problem.

Should have brought his CPAP machine with him.

It'll never pass muster. It would be a violation of the First Amendment.

I highly doubt if you'll ever see the Taylor Law repealed; its a safety valve for the public's safety because a legal strike would have horrific consequenses for the public in general.
Having spent 19 weeks on strike one year I can tell you it gets old pretty quick once your savings run out and the thought of being permanently replaced by striking (scabs) workers only adds to the stress of being on strike. Many of us in the private sector who are union would love to have binding arbitration as opposed to having the right to strike.

One thing I've noticed as of late; something I thought had finally been passed over as being antiquated, is the disagreeing that is still occurring between the mighty forces of Emergency Services Unit and Special Operations Command.
Disagreement expressed on these pages could to be a good thing, as it might foster better understanding between those agencies who likely cooperate 98 percent of the time without incident, but disagree occasionally, and it comes off like a competition on those rare events.
But thinking about it, is this situation any different than what occurs in a majority of places, between emergency personnel?
Isn't it true that a contingent of volunteer firefighters still look upon their career counterparts with some sort of disdain?
Aren't there a few career firefighters, who cannot see any gray areas in the fire service and therefore conclude that ALL volunteer services are undermanned shams? (and how many of them were formerly volunteers with the exact opposite views)
Aren't there some cops who will always view the fire department showing up as just another inconvenient blocking of their highway?
Aren't there obstructionists in every branch of emergency services who would rather die or watch as constituents continue to die, than give up one inch of their authority or admit that changes need to be made to operations?
The imperfections of the systems in place in the greater New York area, serve to demoralize ALL who work within the systems. The ability to adapt to simple operational changes, that in many cases wouldn't cost an additional tax-dollar, or donation-buck, and many times would save money overall, are continually looked at with disdain. With inaction. With resistance.
Each individual however can still have an impact on positive change; if they would direct their energies toward the positive improvements and shun the negative energy. None of us alone will change the emergency services world during our careers. Let me repeat that; none of us alone.....
But collectively, smaller positive contributions all add up in the end toward building momentum for inevitable and productive change.
Most of the positive changes that have come about have been those individual contributions. Think about Chief Haligan. He invented a tool. Think about the guy/s gal/s who thought up 2in 2out. The person who invented exhaust extraction systems. Sure, some were collective improvements made by groups of people tasked with inventing that improvement.
But Chief Haligan went back into the shop somewhere at a firehouse and pulled out a length of hardened steel and started thinking about it. Coupled with his experience at defeating doors and locks. So you keep it simple, like he did and the sky is the limit. It's about an idea, more than what you can do in a steel shop. Your contribution might be ideas, gathered on paper; ideas about how to consolidate a bunch of smaller departments into one larger one, that would become a vast improvement in delivery of fire services. Captain Nechis's ideas, analytic thinking is his haligan tool. Whether it get built or not is still in question. Time however will prove he and his counterparts were years ahead of their time with their ideas.
Ideas are empowerment. What can you do individually to improve emergency services? Think about it, you might just be on to something big.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/03/nyc-fire-union-looks-to-speaker-quinn-to-block-fdny-closures/
A few days ago the mayor released his fiscal plan for the next few years. In it he included $50 million budget cut for FDNY. The only way they're cutting $50 million is to close houses. For anyone watching the past few years this should sound familiar. He will soon begin ramping up the media support for firehouse closures. In 2 to 3 months a revised budget will come in with an unexpected surplus from increased revenues in yadda yadda yadda. He will still push for the cuts because they are necessary to maintain a balanced budget in the near future. Come June he will submit his budget including the company closures to the city council. A few weeks of political wrangling later, the city council will approve a budget with funding restored for the firehouses. Bloomy gets to come away looking tough on those fat cat firefighters and public servants while the damn liberals in the city council continues to undo his hard work.
I am sick of this BS. I'm tired of giving up sunny afternoons for another rally at city hall. I'm tired of sitting in on long boring city council meetings. I'm tired of e-mailing and calling legislators. Sadly for another year we must continue this fight. This is a war and we have to fight every battle. If you're a teacher, cop, EMT/medic, sanitation worker, transit employee, secretary, or any other city employee this story should sound painfully familiar. He is forecasting another substantial reduction in employees on the city payroll, so look for cuts everywhere. He is also forecasting Billion dollar deficits in the coming years and claims to have exhausted the city's rainy day fund. There will be more pain and it will be wide spread. Please get involved with your union. Its going to be an election year, step up and support your local's political action agenda.
Thank you for indulging my rant.

What's the alternative? Vote Republican and deal with the continued assault on collective bargaining rights, pensions, etc? And, if I remember correct, was it not the Bush Justice Dept that filed the FDNY Vulcan suit?

Or they could raise property taxes enough to make up the deficit. You want services, you have to pay for them.

I concur with you 100% on this

I concur with you 100% on this

I concur with you 100% on this

I'm not surprised that accidents involving volunteers greatly outnumber paid.
Volunteer firefighters greatly outnumber paid so of course the incidences would be correspondingly higher.
This was just another lame attempt to create animosity between the the vols and paid. Poor judgement behind the wheel is a reflection of the
individual regardless of compensation.

On another forum it was suggested that volunteers ride along on career rigs, Taken a step farther I think distributing career and volunteer personnel citywide is an excellent idea. When coupled with standardized training and promotional requirements the city could save a bundle as volunteers share duty shifts with career members in what would be a truly great, maybe even the perfect, combination system.
Cogs

As someone already said, "figures lie, liars figure". This in no way calling anyone a liar. Only to point out the fact that anyone can make any statistic valid to their point of view.
As a VOLUNTEER firefighter, I have been passed by other emergency vehicles from ALL services, PD, EMS, and other fire, as well as every day citizens while responding in the apparatus. While responding in my POV, I yield to emergency vehicles but have also been escorted through traffic by PD. As a CAREER(PAID) EMS worker, I have been passed many times by POV's, PD, and FIRE.
As a driver with a CDL, I am subject to higher standards and penalties regardless of the vehicle I am driving. My license is my income.
I get paid by the hour, not by the call or number of patients I transport. Just because YOU called 911, does not make it MY emergency.
The point is, CAREER or VOLUNTEER, on duty, or off, it is an INDIVIDUAL's responsibilty to drive safely, with due regard, at ALL times.

When I was in the volunteer service I "had" a blue light and was using it. Then After awhile I stoped. The reason being is I felt it is more of a hinderance and causes panic with other drivers on the road.
When The pager goes off The fire will still be there, Getting into an accident you are no help to anyone.
Also with a blue light you have to obey all traffic laws. So as you have your blue light on flashing away siting at a red light waiting it to turn green. What good does it for you??? It draws attention to yourself.
Stay calm and you will get there....
Chris

Would you stick your hand into a nest of agitated ants?

Greenville used to have the coolest fire horn. Sounded like a tugboat whistle when it went off. Not sure if its still in service or not.

I remember when 60 Control was staffed by volunteers and parkway police when they were at Hawthorne Traffic Circle.

Likewise I agree. That is why most of them who do not agree are guests of the government at this time.

I think that replacing the term "volunteer" and "career" with the generic term "firefighter" regardless of employment status would be appropriate.

I think that replacing the term "volunteer" and "career" with the generic term "firefighter" regardless of employment status would be appropriate.

Typical attitude of someone young and ignorant. Where's your so-called "proof" or "evidence" that union's are nothing but a "bunch of mafia thugs" Do you know anything about union's or have you been listening to the typical company mantra or maybe your a manager who's deathly afraid of unions? Crossing a picket line? It just shows low character and poor moral fiber on your part. So you go on line and trash those who want to have better working conditions in the workplace? Well Merry Christmas to you too.
I do agree with you on one part of your post; yes, your opinion is biased and you should have stopped right then and there as opposed to sharing your biased screed with us.