NEW YORK (AP) -- The city firefighters union took an unanimous vote of no confidence in Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta Tuesday, saying he has put people at risk by reducing the number of firefighters on many city fire engines.
Scoppetta responded that Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy was trying to bolster support among his membership ahead of an upcoming union election.
``I understand Steve Cassidy's unhappy,'' Scoppetta said. ``Steve's got a lot to be unhappy about. He faces an election in six months and he's done precious little for his membership.''
The firefighters union is upset because the department last week reduced from 60 to 11 the number of engine companies that have five instead of four firefighters. The reduction in staffing of the city's 197 engines was triggered by a high rate of sick leave under a provision of the city's contract with the firefighters.
The fire union said reduced staffing increases the chance of a firefighter or civilian being injured or dying in a fire.
``It's impacting the entire city,'' Cassidy said. ``It's compromising public safety in a way that I don't think has ever been done before.''
The firefighters also criticized what they called Scoppetta's punitive approach to firehouse discipline problems, which have included a high-profile series of drinking and drug-abuse cases.
In August, three Bronx firefighters were charged with breaking department rules by having sex with a woman in their firehouse. One has been fired. Cases are pending against the other two.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended Scoppetta, saying, ``the fire department union should probably step back and look in the mirror.''
``We will not tolerate turning a fire house into a brothel,'' Bloomberg said. ``We're not going to tolerate firefighters drinking when they're on the job.''
