New shifts are proving "exhausting" for Delaware firefighters and has led to forced overtime, according to the union.
The change in shifts for Wilmington firefighters began in July. Under the new system, firefighters work 24 hours with 48 hours off, instead of working 24 hours with 72 hours, which had been the previous system.
"I don't think a month gives you enough time to have a fair assessment, but our guys are working around-the-clock because now that we're being forced to work 48 hours a week, a lot of guys aren't working the voluntary overtime," Joe Leonetti Jr., the president of the firefighters union, told WDEL-AM.
He said the new system has led to forced overtime by the department.
"When we're forced, we're talking guys that are working their 24-hour shift, and then getting forced to work 24 more hours," Leonetti added "A lot of guys are working 48 hours with only 24-hours off in-between, so it's exhausting there."
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn't helped matters, with 19 firefighters needing to be quarantined in July, according to the union president. That, along with the normal course of summer vacations, has made it
"We've had a lot of guys off the COVID quarantine this month; the shift went into effect right at Fourth of July weekend—that's a tough weekend—it's a holiday," Leonetti told WDEL. "You might have a couple more guys knock off sick, and a lot of guys aren't going to voluntarily take overtime that week because they're usually away with their families."
July also had an large amount of firefighters calling out sick, according to the department. Between July 1 and 28, 52 firefighters called out sick, compared to 31 in all of July 2019. For July 4, 17 firefighters called out sick this year, compared to seven in 2019.
"On top of that, other firefighters refused an overtime assignment or did not answer their phones when contacted to work overtime," Fire Chief Mike Donohue said in a statement. "If a firefighter calls out sick, and another firefighter then refuses an overtime assignment, then a firefighter who has already worked a shift is required to stay and work additional hours at one and a half times his/her normal pay rate."
Donohue added that the amount of firefighters calling out sick have placed "an additional burden" on their colleagues.
"However, had firefighters not called out sick in large numbers or refused overtime assignments, the effects of COVID-19 would not have been as cumbersome to deal with," he told WDEL.
The introduction of a new shift system comes as the city and the firefighters union are in contentious contract talks. The city has spent more than $450,000 in legal costs stemming from the negotiations, while the union has spent about half that amount, according WDEL.
