By President Dean Bastin
During these difficult financial times, the Local and the Department have had to work closely together to continue providing the best service we can to our citizens, and be as safe as possible. To do our part members of IAFF Local 3628 have chosen to forgo our Cost of Living Adjustment and wage increase for both 2012 and 2013, saving the department close to $100,000 dollars. In addition to the money savings, we also worked with the Department and Commissioners on a SAFER grant that we were awarded in July of 2012. This grant secured funding from the federal government allowing us to keep all 19 of our current career firefighters through July 2014.
We have also agreed to drop from mandatory 3 person engine companies, which is the industry safety standard, to allow 2 person engine companies. Doing this has enabled Station 24 (the station covering Rainier) to be open a majority of the time throughout the year. The Local, Commissioners, and the Chief all agree that this is not ideal, but a temporary sacrifice that is necessary to continue the best service.
Individual members of the Union have also taken up various duties around the stations and working with equipment that was once done by other staff that have been lost through budget cuts. It is IAFF Local 3628’s goal to work with the Department and continue to provide the best service possible to the Citizens we serve.