City-Firefighter Talks

Today's Journal...

City, firefighters talk cuts
Hamilton, Springfield unions did agree to concessions; agreement not reached in Middletown.

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown firefighters’ union is in talks with city leaders about making concessions to avoid losing 10 positions

The fire department already lost three administrative positions this year as part of the 2011 budget.

In contrast, Springfield and Hamilton’s fire unions — often used for contract comparisons — both recently agreed to no pay increases for the next two years as part of their newest contracts. Middletown’s most recent contract, which expires Dec. 31, includes a 3 percent pay increase for 2011.

City Manager Judy Gilleland said layoffs are a hard reality, but if necessary the fire department will reorganize its stations to ensure the city still meets minimum staffing standards and maintains emergency response times.

“Nearly every city across the United States is looking at making reductions in their budget, including to areas of public safety,” Gilleland said. “While we would rather not reduce levels with safety employees; if union concessions are not achieved, we’ll be looking at reducing numbers of employees

NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE CITY MANAGER'S STATEMENT ABOUT LAYOFFS BEING A HARD REALITY AND NEARLY EVERY CITY MAKING REDUCTIONS IN THEIR BUDGET, HAS ANYONE HEARD WHERE THE CITY MANAGER HAS AGREED TO TAKE A PAY CUT OR SALARY FREEZE? HAS ANYONE HEARD WHERE ANY CITY DIRECTORS HAVE AGREED TO TAKE A PAY CUT OR FREEZE? HAS ANYONE HEARD THAT GILLELAND IS LOOKING AT DOWNSIZING THE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT/DIRECTOR LEVELS IN THE CITY ORGANIZATION? (WHERE ALL THE BIG SALARIES ARE) WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE CUTS IN THE LOWER ECHELONS OF THE CITY RANKS, RIGHT? (ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ALSO HEARD THEY HIRED THEM IN THE BACK DOOR IN ANOTHER JOB SOON AFTER) ANYONE HEARD ABOUT CUTS AT THE TOP? IF SO, PLEASE ADVISE. WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE ASSISTANTS? ARE THEY ALL GONE BY NOW? WHY IS IT THAT WHEN A COMPANY OR GOV. ENTITY STARTS CUTTING, THEY CUT FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND NOT TOP DOWN WHERE REAL MONEY SAVINGS START. IF YOU CUT ONE DIRECTOR, YOU CAN SAVE THREE LOWER TIER JOBS. THEN STREAMLINE THE REPORTING STRUCTURE WITH LESS MIDDLE MANAGEMENT.