Firefighter pay reform.

[Ray R]

How many federal department s are being told by local managers that the pay reform is too expensive? Have any been told that personnel and/or hours will be cut to compensate?

[Mike]

Haven't heard anything like that. Local payroll office has been helpful with questions, etc. Still don't know when we're actually going to see any money though.

[HHoffman]

How can they cut your manning or hours? They can't just walk in one day and say you are now working a 56 hour work week. How can they meet the min. manning? The risk assesment says we need a two company department, so how do they just up and cut that? Sounds like somone is blowing smoke to me. He sounds like one of the people that would contract us out if he could.

[Ray R]

This refers to a Department of Vetrans (VA)Affairs Fire Dept. The manager (not the fire chief) apparently feels that the additional positions needed can be filled with temporary and intermittent employees (no fringe benifits). He is applying for a waiver to the requirements for reduced manning because we currently meet none of these requirements. Reasoning, no major fires in recent years and most fires are small anyhow. We could lose $10,000 annually on the average if it goes through.

[Rob L]

Well my Asst. Chief was told by the base comtroler that if he has his way that the shift A/C's would be reduced to a 53 hr work week. Due to the fact that they will be the highest paid workers on base. But they keep for getting that we work more hours then all others on base. Some still don't beleve that we work a 72 hr work week.

[firefighter40]

Ray:

The president advised DOD that he was in favor of the pay raise and that they were to implement the funds for this. This was all done and the money was budgeted, before the bill was passed. Since the bill passed you can tell your Chief that the money was approved by the president before the bill was passed and that the funds were budgeted by DOD

[Ray R]

We are not DOD. We are Department of Vetrans Affairs. Supposedly it was only about $600,000 VA wide so they didn't request it. The local Fiscal Manager says there is no money to support it so we will go to a 56 because it will save some money by hiring GS-3 temps for the extra bodies needed to run a 56. Our Chief is not the problem. It's management above him.