65Zero
08-29-2005, 03:32 PM
FDNY Chiefs' Union Pres Says Don't Volunteer
SUSAN EDELMAN
Courtesy of New York Post
August 7, 2005 -- Volunteer firefighters are seeing red over comments by the president of the FDNY chiefs' union, who is telling members not to join their hometown volunteer fire departments, The Post has learned. "We ask you not to be a volunteer firefighter in your community," Pete Gorman, president of the United Fire Officers Association, says in his latest report to members.
His words have spread like wildfire around the state, which boasts 94,588 volunteer firefighters — including thousands of "two-hatters" among 17,472 career firefighters, says the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.
Most towns on Long Island and upstate rely on volunteer departments, and many paid firefighters consider it a badge of honor to serve them.
In his online "president's report," Gorman says professional firefighters who join volunteer departments might jeopardize union health benefits if members get sick or injured fighting blazes off professional duty.
He also complains that chiefs from Long Island and Westchester park marked volunteer cars at the city Fire Academy — and that Mayor Bloomberg notices.
"So when we talk money with the mayor, he reminds me that our guys would do it for nothing," Gorman writes.
Gorman is especially irked by FDNY firefighters who join "combination departments," like those in Garden City and Long Beach, L.I., which include both paid personnel and volunteers. Union officials believe this eliminates potential jobs.
The FDNY says only 128 of its 11,000-member force have notified the department, as required, that they are also volunteers. But some may not report it, officials said, because union rules forbid it.
Volunteers insist what they do on their off-time is their business, but Gorman told The Post, "If you're a member of a union, it's my business." He added, "When New York City cops volunteer and drive around in Nassau and Suffolk cop cars, I'll let my guys drive around in Nassau and Suffolk firetrucks."
Both the UFOA and the Uniformed Firefighters Association say members who join volunteer departments are subject to expulsion from the union.
They rarely enforce the rule, but ask volunteers to drop their pro bono work.
"The union has no right to tell firefighters what they can or can't do in their spare time," said Edward Carpenter, president of the state Fireman's Association.
SUSAN EDELMAN
Courtesy of New York Post
August 7, 2005 -- Volunteer firefighters are seeing red over comments by the president of the FDNY chiefs' union, who is telling members not to join their hometown volunteer fire departments, The Post has learned. "We ask you not to be a volunteer firefighter in your community," Pete Gorman, president of the United Fire Officers Association, says in his latest report to members.
His words have spread like wildfire around the state, which boasts 94,588 volunteer firefighters — including thousands of "two-hatters" among 17,472 career firefighters, says the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.
Most towns on Long Island and upstate rely on volunteer departments, and many paid firefighters consider it a badge of honor to serve them.
In his online "president's report," Gorman says professional firefighters who join volunteer departments might jeopardize union health benefits if members get sick or injured fighting blazes off professional duty.
He also complains that chiefs from Long Island and Westchester park marked volunteer cars at the city Fire Academy — and that Mayor Bloomberg notices.
"So when we talk money with the mayor, he reminds me that our guys would do it for nothing," Gorman writes.
Gorman is especially irked by FDNY firefighters who join "combination departments," like those in Garden City and Long Beach, L.I., which include both paid personnel and volunteers. Union officials believe this eliminates potential jobs.
The FDNY says only 128 of its 11,000-member force have notified the department, as required, that they are also volunteers. But some may not report it, officials said, because union rules forbid it.
Volunteers insist what they do on their off-time is their business, but Gorman told The Post, "If you're a member of a union, it's my business." He added, "When New York City cops volunteer and drive around in Nassau and Suffolk cop cars, I'll let my guys drive around in Nassau and Suffolk firetrucks."
Both the UFOA and the Uniformed Firefighters Association say members who join volunteer departments are subject to expulsion from the union.
They rarely enforce the rule, but ask volunteers to drop their pro bono work.
"The union has no right to tell firefighters what they can or can't do in their spare time," said Edward Carpenter, president of the state Fireman's Association.