CFD union not happy with proposed city cuts

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A recent article in the Sun-Times highlights a disagreement between the city administration and firefighters during contract negotiations. One of the proposals involves reorganizing 60 of the 95 engine companies into 4-man units, assuming that Engines 91 and 116—located with squad companies—are not included.

The proposal also suggests converting all 15 of the BLS ambulances into ALS ambulances, which would increase the level of medical care provided by paramedics on scene.

Almost four months after losing their strong advocate, Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff, Chicago firefighters are now clear about what Mayor Rahm Emanuel is demanding as their current contract expires on June 30.

Emanuel’s plan has been criticized by the firefighters’ union as “insulting” and “ridiculous.” It targets several key benefits, including holiday pay, duty availability compensation, clothing allowances, pay grades, premium pay, and the physical fitness incentive. It also seeks to eliminate the 7% bonus for cross-trained firefighter paramedics.

A former union official estimated that these changes could cost the average firefighter around $7,000 annually.

While the mayor’s proposal doesn’t include closing fire stations, it does aim to reduce staffing levels at some stations, revisiting the minimum manning rules that led to the 1980 strike.

Currently, each fire unit must have at least five personnel. Under the new proposal, "double houses"—which house both engines and trucks—would be staffed by nine instead of ten firefighters.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently stated that any new firefighters' contract must include cost-cutting measures to improve efficiency within the department. However, the union is strongly opposing the city’s proposal.

The current contract expires on June 30, and the firefighters’ union claims the city’s offer would eliminate several forms of additional pay and reduce staffing at certain stations.

In a letter to members, Firefighters Union Local 2 President Thomas Ryan called the proposals “insulting” and “ridiculous.” He highlighted that the city wants to remove various salary add-ons, such as the clothing allowance, the 7% pay bump for cross-trained paramedics, and the “duty availability” pay that compensates firefighters for being on call on their days off.

Ryan also noted that the proposal calls for reducing the number of firefighters in “double houses” from 10 to 9, though there is no mention of closing any firehouses.

“I have a responsibility to all the people of the city of Chicago,” Emanuel said during a news conference. “Not just a few, not one part of the city—but all the people. I need to make sure taxpayers and residents are represented. That’s my job.”

He added, “I respect what Tom (Ryan) and the firefighters have to do, but I have to ensure we make the necessary changes for the future, not just keep doing things the way we used to.”

Last year, former Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff strongly opposed any reduction in staffing, arguing that it would endanger both residents and firefighters. But since his retirement in February, new Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago has taken a more flexible approach. “There are many studies on what is safe and what isn’t,” Santiago said at his introductory press conference.

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