Budget

[LincolnHghtLuva]

Some scary stuff here, especially question 3....

http://www.dcfdphotos.com/Fiscal%20Year%202012%20Budget%20Oversight.pdf

[Pumperman]

One of the answers.....

By reducing a shift, the Department would experience a higher than normal attrition rate (currently 7 employees per month) because of the change in work hours. Not all positions leaving the Department would need to be filled and could be left vacant if a new target staffing factor was determined. The va-riable savings of this proposed plan is unknown, but such savings could be used to fill vacant positions with new recruits (if needed), expand the Fire Cadet Program for District residents (both options at much lower salary and benefit costs), expand purchasing of apparatus and other equipment to im-prove fleet, or return the savings to the General Fund.

They want people to leave. The people that crafted this want to discourage the members that live out of the city to retire or quit. It's not so hidden in his travels to the houses.

[Loo for life]

Do not forget that you young guys shall lose roughly :mad: 80+ Promotional opportunites

Take it from an old guy who worked 3-3-3 overall it sucked compared to a 24 hour shift, why management chooses to desire this versus a 24 hour shift is unknown to me, I can only speculate....

I will say this the disciplinary actions shall increase with members who cannot find there way to work one out of four days per week wait til they must show up 6 days in a row woo hoo let the games begin!!

28 shifts and counting down...

[oldhead]

I think this regime is vastly underestimating the number of people who will stay. If no one leaves they will have the unpleasant task of firing people. It's not politically popular and I don't think they have the stomach for it. Also, way back when on the 3 plt. system you had to specifically request your paddle (kelly) day off, it was always assumed you'd work it simply because there wasn't enough manpower to cover everyone's paddle. When the fems administrator was asked at a recent firehouse conference how the dept. would make a 42 hour work week out of 3-3-3 he said that with the use of kelly days 42 hrs. per week would be achieved. That's a lot of extra days off and a whole helluva lot of O.T. I could handle an extra 12-24 hrs. O.T. a paycheck and that would probably be without having to make myself available, it would be mandatory. Sweet! This clown show HATES commuters, don't forget it, and the plan, I believe, is to scare as many guys as possible into quitting, man, eff that, stick around for SPITE. Vince Gray is a Marion Barry clone and so are all of his department heads. Hang on guys, it's only gonna get BETTER! :mad:

[footsoldier]

Mr. Oldhead, you my friend are correct. With 12-24 a check, I could finally build the veranda that my boo has been nagging me about, on my crib in beautiful downtown LaPlata Maryland.

[oldhead]

And at time and-a-half?! Bring it on! I'm gonna get me a 20 person hot tub with one of them gazebo thingies over it! Maybe a pool too!

[FEMS Only]

What "it" (no longer deserves recognition as a human) doesn't take into account is that many volunteer houses near the line have in the past and would currently help house those "members" that needed to crash and ride a few nights near the city. This would help membership and enable us to wait this "it"out.

Kenizin, once you have left this job, your policies will stop and you will be a nobody. In the future , the only thing worse than being cursed by a DCFD member, will be to be ignored and considered no longer a DC Fireman. To me you left that title a few months ago.

Maybe it is your hope but I as a veteran of this FIRE department, no longer see you as a DC fireman. Take it for what it's worth, but you have lost the recognition of this DC fireman whom served many a moons while you WERE a fireman. I will say you are the first Fireman I have ever felt this way about. Most of my life has been spent as a Fireman and I can't believe this day has come. I thought it not even possible for a Fireman to lose that recognition. Now I am aware it can happen and will NEVER allow this to happen to me.

"Your men first" is how a salty officer explained it to me years ago. He said that this is what leadership and being a Fireman is about." I reckon this was not taught in any UDC or online college Fire programs, hence you seem to not know this Kenzin. Then again you are not an ignorant soul, so I can only surmise that you know this and chose to ignore it, for I know the officer that told me this served with you.

In closing I will say "good riddance to bad rubbish" even if it's years or weeks (hopefully) away.

[Mac29]

Everyone start the Fax attack!! This is just a new form of the residency requirement and discrimination!! When you put it in writing like that. "Lets get employees to leave so we can hire the young troubled kids off the street who are district residents." See how that requirement turned out. Contact your Senators and Congressmen and send them a copy of the oversight budget. Let them see the discrimination in writing.

[Pumperman]

This means spending additional time away from your loved ones even though we serve on holidays, weekends, and our children's birthdays!

Surely someday we will piss on the graves of these phonies! Pull out now Tim G. while you can preserve your legacy or you will be part of the worst this department has ever had to offer.

[F#cked again!]

What "it" (no longer deserves recognition as a human) doesn't take into account is that many volunteer houses near the line have in the past and would currently help house those "members" that needed to crash and ride a few nights near the city. This would help membership and enable us to wait this "it"out.

Kenizin, once you have left this job, your policies will stop and you will be a nobody. In the future , the only thing worse than being cursed by a DCFD member, will be to be ignored and considered no longer a DC Fireman. To me you left that title a few months ago.

Maybe it is your hope but I as a veteran of this FIRE department, no longer see you as a DC fireman. Take it for what it's worth, but you have lost the recognition of this DC fireman whom served many a moons while you WERE a fireman. I will say you are the first Fireman I have ever felt this way about. Most of my life has been spent as a Fireman and I can't believe this day has come. I thought it not even possible for a Fireman to lose that recognition. Now I am aware it can happen and will NEVER allow this to happen to me.

"Your men first" is how a salty officer explained it to me years ago. He said that this is what leadership and being a Fireman is about." I reckon this was not taught in any UDC or online college Fire programs, hence you seem to not know this Kenzin. Then again you are not an ignorant soul, so I can only surmise that you know this and chose to ignore it, for I know the officer that told me this served with you.

In closing I will say "good riddance to bad rubbish" even if it's years or weeks (hopefully) away.

This POS has never been a Firemen, and has no clue of the brotherhood, he is a self centered Prick who cares about himself and how he can fuck the men and woman who don't live in this City regardless of your race. This is pure discrimination and we all need to stand togather as one and fight this ASSHOLE.

[HOOKwoMAN]

His changes and suggestions are clearly geared at attacking the mostly white firefighters who live more than 25 miles outside the city. It couldn't be more obvious.

Most fire chiefs address safety issues and strive to ensure the well-being of the employees.

Is it time already for a no-confidence vote? He can join the ranks of all the other garbage that holds such a title from DC Firefighters Union.

And the Mayor better start thinking about how kenzin will negativly effect his political support by the union next time 'round.

Keep smiling Kenzin, we are all starting to understand who and what you really are, and it is quite tragic.

[regs1]

everyone:

I know I been retired for a while, first the 3-3-3 is a 56 hour work week, so the union will just roll over and go from a 42 work week to a 56 hour work week - so how I do not believe that will happen.

next- if you received the last IAFF news letter, the big article is how the various locals are under attack from local governments, they also point out how they are fighting such moves.
So the chief believes that he is going to attack a IAFF local on the IAFF home turf, and they will not do much to help out that local?

Ya I can see the IAFF, AFL-CIO just helping a little when a local government tries to break a union on their home turf.

Now lets get a little more realistic, when is the chief going to switch his argument, and all of a sudden say the 3-3-3- is now out because of the number of work hours change will cause excess overtime expenses, and all of a sudden a 2-2-4 shift is now the big solution.

Be careful of his arguments, listen carefully on what he says, The chief know politics, and know what he can and most importantly cannot do. He uses his front men to achieve his goals, and to release disinformation, and then he will use the old political midstream switch to achieve what he wants, and then put the capital hill spin on things.

to most people here do not play into these games, do not play into his race card, do not let him split the membership, forget where you live, if you live in PA, or FL, so what, you get the honer of supporting the oil companies, and their exec's lifestyles, by paying $4.00+ a gallon, and then driving a couple of hours to work.

Most of all, if you have a bitch, go to the local, bitch there, if a action is taken against you, ask for a union official, know the order book, know the DCOP, know the union-FD disciplinary procedures. If you are not sure, call the union office.

[oldhead]

Know the little blue book. Our union contract. "In the final analysis, that is what will hold sway and win court battles." Believe it or not, Doug Smith said that and it's probably the smartest thing he's ever said.

[Hydro Engineer]

:DAnd the little Blue book say's The Firefighting Division will work 24 hours on duty and 72 hours off duty:D:D So Kenzin sign a new contract with a 50% pay increase and I will go to a 3-3-3 shift:eek::D:cool:

[SrFireOfficial]

Are there any plans to consider a 24 hour shift with three platoons? It's been working in Northern Virginia for 25+ years (a nine day cycle, work 24 hours on days one, three and five, off all the others)? Considering the combination of 3-3-3 or 2-2-4 or 24 hour shifts; it's still a 56 hour work week and be subject to the OT rules of the Fair Labor Standards Act that so many FD's in the country have been forced to adjust to? As a taxpayer in the District of Columbia, I want to know where any, if any, savings would be made?

Or is this just a mean-spirited attempt to break the 24 hour shift (24 on, 72 off) and force members to reside closer or within Washington DC proper?

[Backstep]

Or is this just a mean-spirited attempt to break the 24 hour shift (24 on, 72 off) and force members to reside closer or within Washington DC proper?

According to recent testimony before the city council, on record, the change of schedule is meant to speed up attrition (get people to quit) in order to make FTE's available to hire city residents.

[regs1]

the dcfd once had a 24-48 with a kelley day, I am not sure of the exact hours worked, but I know there there are other who have this information,
The 2-2-4 is a 42 work week, so there is no numbers of hours work change. The change is the 24 work day.
Lets not make a mistake here, the 2-2-4 is not much better than the 3-3-3, they both suck.

[Confused]

It's funny, studies show that shifts such as the 2-2-4 and 3-3-3 are very detrimental to not only troop morale, but especially troop health. Putting the human body on a sleep schedule following those shifts is not natural and at no point can the body adjust to it. People can say they can take it, but bodies are meant to function under specific circadian rhythms (24 hour life cycle) When the body does not get the correct circadian rhythm it shocks the human body and can lead to numerous health problems. Frequent changes in schedule and disruption to circadian rhythms can lead to increased cardiovascular mortality, chronic fatigue, indigestion, heartburn, stomachache, loss of appetite, and ulcers. Sufferers of heart attacks are shown to be rotational shiftworkers significantly more than those men not working shiftwork. Rotating shift workers don't get the same opportunity to participate at social/family gatherings, and come under enormous strain coping with everyday issues, both on and off the job. Peptic ulcer disease is noted at eight times higher than non shift work. Shift workers are more likely to become overweight because of abnormal eating habits and lack of exercise. Rates of divorce, sustance abuse, and depression are shown to be higher and shiftworkers are more likely to view their jobs as stressful.

Rotating shift workers were found to have a 40 to 50 percent increased risk of heard disease over a five year period done by the Helinski Heart Study done on a Finnish population of workers.

Quoting Leslie Olson and Antonio Ambrogetti from the Medical Journal of Australia: "Night-shift workers seldom sleep more than five or six hours in each 24-hour period, so that after seven nights the accumulated sleep deficit is 15 to 20 hours. At least 48 hours off duty are usually needed to recover this deficit, and rosters that require workers to go from night shifts to day or afternoon shifts with no break are dangerous."

All this information aside make no mistake, this administration doesn't care about you or your health or you well being, your very human life is valued on whether or not your zipcode falls under one that is within the city. In fact the wording of their answer on the shift change would even imply that they wish you ill will just for not living in this federal city, funny enough most of the people who are in the city at any given time do not live here either.

[Confused]

From April 1st 2011: Women who'd worked at least 20 months of rotating shifts were 23 percent more likely to have irregular periods than those who'd worked none.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/us-shift-work-menstrual-cycle-idUSTRE7305C020110401

[FEMS Only]

The talk of purposeful attrition and some replacement with new, inexperienced employees in order to save money is akin to removing your healthy brain now in order to save money on possible future brain cancer treatments. The DC government spent millions over the years in finding and training firemen. The experience( both outside and inside the city) they have obtained over the years in priceless and an asset to District residents and visitors alike. Were you to hire only from city residents you shrink your pool and variety of potential firemen. Most , if not all, potential cadets have no more prior experience than the man on the moon. This is not a shot at cadets, just a fact. By contrast, most whom come on the job from outside the city are either volunteers or previously employed firemen with years of experience under their belt. This cuts costs to the department, and increases the overall service to the city, resident and visitor alike. I think it's high time that the administration stop the hostile attitude toward "outsiders" that have been on the job longer than many potential replacements have even been alive.



Just a small question. Again, not a shot at cadets but how man whom came up through the cadet program, and are still on the job, still live in the city?

[warnimersnird]

From the DC Office of Human Rights webpage:
Who Can File a Complaint
You may file a discrimination complaint if you believe you have been discriminated against in employment, housing, public accommodations and educational institutions - including insurance and credit - because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, personal appearance, sexual orientation, political affiliation, family responsibilities, disability, familial status, matriculation, marital status, source of income and place of residence or business.
You do not have to be a District of Columbia resident, but the alleged discrimination must have taken place in the District of Columbia.
Your complaint must be filed with OHR within one year of the occurrence or discovery of the alleged act.


See the rest at:
http://ohr.dc.gov/ohr/cwp/view,a,3,q,492096.asp

[getto boss]

the dcfd once had a 24-48 with a kelley day, I am not sure of the exact hours worked, but I know there there are other who have this information,
The 2-2-4 is a 42 work week, so there is no numbers of hours work change. The change is the 24 work day.
Lets not make a mistake here, the 2-2-4 is not much better than the 3-3-3, they both suck.



If I remember right, when we worked the 24-48 with the kelly day it was an 48 hr work week. It was ok to work but the best part was working your kelly for OT like Oldhead stated. Stay strong guys!

[notmuchlonger]

If I remember right, when we worked the 24-48 with the kelly day it was an 48 hr work week. It was ok to work but the best part was working your kelly for OT like Oldhead stated. Stay strong guys!

When we originally went to 24/48 in January of 1986 it was still a 48 work week (like 3-3-3)with a total of 7 Kelly Days. each person at each company was assigned a number from 1-7. Every 7th platoon day you worked, you got off. Overtime was not guaranteed but it was pretty close to it. Local 36 was able to get us the 24/48 work week mainly because there was not increase or decrease in the work week compared to 3-3-3. We where still obligated to 48 hour work week. The following contract Local 36 was able to get us a 45 hour work week. We were still working 24/48 but the number of Kelly days was reduced from 7 to 5 so every 5th platoon work day, you had a day off.

When we went to 24/72 (by virtue of the settlement agreement of the lawsuit) this basically put us on a 42 hour work week however the city held us to the 3 extra hours and every 6 weeks you where required to work a payback day. Through the collective bargaining process local 36 was able to get us a 42 hour work week by eliminating the payback day.

[Trucksgot6]

Everyone start the Fax attack!! This is just a new form of the residency requirement and discrimination!! When you put it in writing like that. "Lets get employees to leave so we can hire the young troubled kids off the street who are district residents." See how that requirement turned out. Contact your Senators and Congressmen and send them a copy of the oversight budget. Let them see the discrimination in writing.

Seems a bit upfront.

[Mac29]

Call it like I see it!

[Trucksgot6]

I'm not disagreeing with you, in fact I agree 100%...Definately a sad story

[warnimersnird]

With the new spending freeze does it looks like education and public safety are "paying the Lion's share" for overspending of all agencies? Good thing we have all the supplies we need to do the job...

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/gray-orders-sweeping-spending-freeze-dc-government

[pragmatist]

Why not offer a 20 year retirement? That would be a good way to get people out.

[Hydro Engineer]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/our-trees-their-money

:mad:So we as loyal Firefighters who do our Job and risk our lives everyday cannot get a pay raise in over FIVE (5) years… And our Fire Chief who left us a year ago and came back in January, SIX (6) MONTHS ago... the Mayor thinks he should get a pay raise:eek:. PLEASE!!! Give me a break. He has brought morel down:(, created more personnel issues:o, and has created an environment of discourse and mass confusion throughout this department:confused:.

[Whatdahell]

WHATDAHELL- I think the FEMS Chief would pass on a pay raise as he said in the hearing and town hall meeting he has enough money. Or maybe he will suggest taking the money for his raise and redirect it to fix the A/C in the ambos. 97 degs. in the back with pts.

[oldhead]

Tell your patients to contact their city councilmen, the mayor and the fems administrator, it's the ONLY way they'll listen because they sure as hell don't listen to us. Nearly every patient has cell, they can fire off e-mails while they're waiting in the ER's which happen to have working AC.

[warnimersnird]

Triple K Ambulance Standards require the following:
3.13.3 AIR CONDITIONING CRITERIA.
The air conditioning system(s) will have sufficient capacity to maintain the temperature in the patient
compartment at a maximum dry bulb temperature of 78°F. When available, OEMs’ interconnection
points will be utilized.
3.13.4 VENTILATION

This from the "working draft" of proposed NFPA standard on ambulances:

6.27.4.1 An air conditioning system shall be provided capable of lowering the interior temperature from 95°F to
78°F (35°C to 25°C) at a minimum of 40 percent relative humidity within 30 minutes.
6.27.4.2 Compliance of the air conditioning system shall be validated by testing a substantially similar ambulance
in accordance with AMD 012, Interior Climate Control Test.

[FEMS Only]

Does DOH have any criteria on their inspection for A/C?

[kyser sose]

WHATDAHELL- I think the FEMS Chief would pass on a pay raise as he said in the hearing and town hall meeting he has enough money. Or maybe he will suggest taking the money for his raise and redirect it to fix the A/C in the ambos. 97 degs. in the back with pts.

This has been an ongoing issue for the past 3+ years. Just think of how many Ambo A/C units could have been fixed with $4,000 that each 2 of the then AFC's made in Overtime during last years' snow storm, plus the bonuses paid to the then FC.

[kyser sose]

Not defending anyone.....just saying that that argument is kinda weak.

[Whatdahell]

I wonder what the new medical director thanks about the heat issuses with ambulances?

[What a Mess]

He probably 'thinks' whatever Ellerbe wants him to 'think'. Does anyone believe that this guy is going to surround himself with anyone who disagrees with him on any issues. You'all saw how dismissive he was in the TV interviews about this issue. He is probably more annoyed with the members being upset and complaining about riding in the units without any A/C than he is concerned about any 'citizens' being directly affected by it. He only cares about what is convenient for him. Nice try by Ed and the Local trying to get the media and the public on our side, but I believe it only irritated him more than he already was with the rank and file of the Department. Silly Firemen wanting A/C in their Ambulances...who do they think they are...I'm Kenneth Ellerbe Fire Chief DCFEMS, B.S., MPA, PhD, DHE, HMFIC! Doesn't anyone know how much schooling and education I've had, therefor that makes me infinitely smarter than everyone else...ergo...I know what's best for everyone, and A/C on hot days in Ambulances is not that important. Now changing the name of the Fire Department, holding up promotions, destroying morale, getting myself a pay raise...those things are important.

I guess Kenny Lyons doesn't seem to mind either that there is no A/C in a large number of transport units, 'cause otherwise we would see some action on this issue. Oh wait...that's because there is a larger number of Firefighters directly affected by this issue than single role providers. We need to get some singe role providers on board with this then the problem will get fixed. After all they are the only ones that Ellerbe cares about.

[FEMS Only]

Look at this I high lighted section 17

[Norman Loses]

The more interesting and pertinent section to highlight might be this one:

7. Reserve EMS Units (EMOP Units)
The Department will maintain a minimum of ten (10) Reserve EMS units. These units will be maintained by the Deputy Fire Chief – Homeland Security and Special Operations Division. The Division will maintain an appropriate equipment cache to ensure that these units are properly equipped and ready for service on a daily basis.
A minimum of five (5) Reserve EMS Units will be maintained at the Reserve Warehouse located at 915 Gallatin Street, N.W.
A minimum of five (5) Reserve EMS Units will be maintained at the quarters of Engine 12.
These units will be utilized during implementation of the Emergency Mobilization Plan and during special events. These units will not normally be available for routine use as reserve apparatus. These units will be assigned unit and numerical designations appropriate to the equipment and the certification of personnel staffing the units from 50 through 69.
8. Reserve EMS Units
The Deputy Fire Chief – Apparatus Division has identified and will maintain a minimum of twenty (20) Reserve Ambulances. These reserve EMS units will be maintained at the Departments changeover facility located at the quarters of Engine Company 6.
Reserve EMS units will normally be stripped of all equipment, and will provide replacement apparatus when an EMS unit’s regularly assigned vehicle will be out-of-service.
Equipment from the regularly assigned vehicle will be used to equip the Warehouse Reserve EMS unit.

[oldhead]

Hahaha all this citing of the rules is funny. This month will be 26 years I've been on the job and during this time I have learned that there is really only one rule that holds hard and fast: You have to follow the rules until it's time to break the rules. It's taken me awhile, but I'm now amused at how SHOCKED FD management is when summer shows up and it's hot. EVERY year management is caught with their pants down because the AC don't work in the transport units. Maybe one year summer won't show up... The department won't listen to us, but the politicians will listen to voters and that will make the political appointees listen. Heat in the summer, what a concept.