LETTERS

Give firefighters a normal work week

Posted 6/18/15

To the Editor:

Now just what have the firemen of this state in general, done to deserve our…animosity?

Heroes to a “T” everyone one of them, and yet here they are the bad guys. I mean, …

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LETTERS

Give firefighters a normal work week

Posted

To the Editor:

Now just what have the firemen of this state in general, done to deserve our…animosity?

Heroes to a “T” everyone one of them, and yet here they are the bad guys. I mean, who among us did not want to be a fireman when we were kids with our first toy fire engine, or my own personal idea of the perfect suitor for one’s daughter. You know the one, you see him calmly marching out of that burning building, Grandma in one arm and a kitten in the other.

So why are we forcing them to work so many hours?

What fireman would not jump at the chance of a (normal) 40-hour working week like so many other occupations?

What Fireman’s Union President would not jump at the chance to get his members on a normal 40-hour working week?

The unemployment rate in this state is staggering. The governor has pledged to address that.

In the City of Warwick we can find money for clerks and people to chase abandoned homes, but we cannot hire more firemen.

There is no doubt in my mind that we all recognize the importance of firemen and the safety they bring to our lives, in which case we clearly need a full complement on the streets to do the job in a civilized allotment of hours. We would not go to war with only half an army would we, or allow a public building to have only half the required sprinklers or fire extinguishers? If an increase in taxes is what it takes to get to full strength (as defined by some town or city charter probably), while at the same time helping the unemployment situation, how would that be a bad thing? It would be a necessary and just action.

What fireman, union president, politician or public citizen would be against that?

If my daughter ever finds Mr. Right and he turns out to be a fireman, I for one would not be happier.

Capt. Ian Bowles, MNI

Warwick

Comments

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  • davebarry109

    Capt Bowles....you must be related to a fireman. In Warwick, the WFD has not stayed on budget for Overtime in 30 years. Each and every year they blow their budget. Warwick does not need more firemen. They need to go to the 3 platoon system. They would have EXTRA firemen if they did this. All these guys have second jobs on their current 4on 4off schedule. They all make twice their salary with OT. They have tons of time off. If anyone actually looked in to the fire department they would expose what a racket it is. Better than teaching. They are allowed to switch shifts with one another. One guy took three months off by doing this, getting full pay. Had five weeks vacation on top of that. They earn well over 100,000.00 unless they are brand new.

    Friday, June 19, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    Who took three months off? Spreading more lies I see.

    Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Capt. Bowles,

    If all the firemen would jump at the opportunity to work 40 hrs then the answer is simple. 3 shifts just like the police department. Don't give me the answer that they cant do 3 eight hour shifts because "if they are involved in a fire then ??????" BS. 3 shifts would have the department at 168 men plus the administration, not 230, not insane overtime, no one driving to Daves Market, no special hazards at the marinas, no joy rides. Run that one by them and see just what Union President Coward Bill Lloyd would say.

    Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Capt. Bowles,

    If all the firemen would jump at the opportunity to work 40 hrs then the answer is simple. 3 shifts just like the police department. Don't give me the answer that they cant do 3 eight hour shifts because "if they are involved in a fire then ??????" BS. 3 shifts would have the department at 168 men plus the administration, not 230, not insane overtime, no one driving to Daves Market, no special hazards at the marinas, no joy rides. Run that one by them and see just what Union President Coward Bill Lloyd would say.

    Tuesday, June 23, 2015 Report this

  • CameronClueless

    oh Capt Bowles, your daughter would need to work a second job because her husband will be taking a serious pension cut! You should know well that Warwick has been taxed 15 straight years, and no matter how much the taxes have gone up and will go up, its never going to be enough. Don't you get it? They don't care and won't care until the sh*t hits the fan like it did in Central Falls & Central Coventry. Half of the runs are rescue runs. We don't need firetrucks tagging along on heart attack and heroin OD rescue runs.

    Wednesday, June 24, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    We don't need fire trucks tagging along on heart attack runs? That might be the single most uneducated response I've ever heard from you. How many people do you think it takes to do CPR on a heart attack victim? See you at the dock captain...

    Thursday, June 25, 2015 Report this

  • falina

    Can we PLEASE stop harassing the firemen/ city workers/ taxpayers and point the focus where it sorely belongs....not at our hard workers, but at the lazy politicians who have mismanaged and squandered people's hard-earned taxpayers? They WANT you to attack each other. The "point and deflect" tactic only keeps the focus of their utter ineptitude and out-of-control spending habits, which hurt EVERYONE, with each passing day! This mess is 100% THEIR fault! Keep your eye on the ball peeps!

    Thursday, June 25, 2015 Report this

  • falina

    *money, not taxpayers, sorry.

    Thursday, June 25, 2015 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Yes...let's stop talking about why we have 225 firemen but only 170 cops in Warwick. Let's not talk about 30 years of busted OT budgets and ever increasing taxes

    Thursday, June 25, 2015 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Falina,

    I read all of the comments about the firefighters and yours is the most accurate. There is a huge difference between the firefighters themselves and the politics involved with them. I deeply admire the firefighters! I couldn't do what they do when it comes to the danger issue. I'll admit it openly. I'm just not brave enough to run into a burning inferno. Our Warwick Firefighters are the best in Rhode Island in my opinion. The "politics" involved is where I, and a LOT of other people have issues. You are absolutely right. It is the fault of "the lazy politicians who have mismanaged and squandered". But who? The Mayor? The City Council? The Union Leaders? The Union Membership? Blue Cross? The Taxpayers? The answer is ALL OF US! You, me and ALL OF US. What we need is open dialog with the goal of a better relationship between everyone. I believe that the contract negotiations should involve the City council. I believe the contract negotiations should involve the taxpayers that are paying the bill. I believe that "transparency" will make our politicians accountable not "lazy" as you say,and it will better manage taxpayers money, not "squander" it as you say. That's what I believe. Falina, you have a good, down-to-earth idea. Let's you and I push for greater transparency in Warwick. Lets make everyone "believe"!

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor in 2016

    Thursday, June 25, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    Richard can you tell me how your going to do this "…will reduce new municipal employee salaries starting with his own. (20%)"? Or this "…will reduce any new employee starting salaries & benefits."

    Friday, June 26, 2015 Report this

  • Notbornyesterday

    Still waiting on Cameron's clueless response to CPR question?

    Friday, June 26, 2015 Report this