The Gravey Train Is In The Station

[CaptBob]

There has never been a time like this in the fire service. We had 24 people retire from my department in one day at the end of last month. We were already short a few. With the enhanced retirement, firefighters can retire as early as 50 years old. The fire service got huge incentives to hire soldiers coming back from Vietnam in 1970-73. Those people now have 30 years on, and can retire at over 85% of their salary.

This, combined with the poor economy, my retirement payments go up when the stock market goes down, means it’s cheaper for them to retire than stay at work. The departments retirement payments have gone up a lot, with the 3 % @ 50, and it’s cheaper for them to run short people and pay overtime.

At the same time departments are closing stations, and looking for any way to cut costs. They are going to have to replace most of the people retiring, but when they do, you will see the door slam shut. I don’t see us hiring for 3-5 years after we’ve caught up. Yes, the gravy train is in the station, do you have your ticket, or are you going to be standing there waving good-bye to the people who scored one point higher on their oral? Don’t be the person wishing you’d not gone skiing or fishing when you should have been preparing. Get hired, get through probation, get some real paychecks, and ski in New Zealand, Fish in Alaska next year. You owe it to yourself, and all the people that have been helping you. Make them proud, and don’t miss out. Can you hear that whistle, ALL ABOARD.

FIREFIGHTER ROB @ NRTC@SONIC.NET
WWW.EATSTRESS.COM