By Roldo Bartimole
There may be a very simple solution to the disgusting misuse of privileges by Cleveland firefighters.
A law should state that city firefighters cannot work more than 10 hours a week at a second job.
Presently, firefighters, I’m told, have no restriction on second jobs.
This is the base of the ugly misuse of firefighters’ schedules.
Their regular job interferes with their money-making side jobs.
Hell, let’s not allow public service to interrupt side jobs.
This lack of restricting second jobs, I believe, results in the massive abuse of trading time. It must stop.
I’m told that some firefighters even hold jobs out of state, never mind around the neighborhood.
One firefighter, says a Councilman, does body building in San Diego. Another, he says, operates a pool business in Florida. How nice.
Just how much of this abuse will Mayor Frank Jackson – who wants to come down hard on teachers who at least show up – tolerate? The whip for teachers. Olive branches for firefighters and their superiors. Is this crazy or what.
Why is Marty Flask still Safety Director. Why is Paul Stubbs still Fire Chief? Why are they allowed by Jackson to refuse to manage their staffs? Why don’t they have the decency to resign if they can’t bring themselves to correct the audited abuses?
As I wrote eight years ago:
“Who should schedule when firefighters are on duty – the city or the fire union?”
Can we have an answer Mayor Jackson? Can we have an answer Marty Sweeney? Can we have answers Council members? Is there anyone left that’s responsible at City Hall? Or do we wait another 8 years?
It almost makes one say let’s go with a revised Senate Bill 5 that forces public unions to take seriously they should give a day’s work for a day’s pay.
I wrote eight years ago:
“The situation is this: Firefighters with seniority can choose to a degree what days they want to work. The record indicates that many choose Monday through Thursday. Without enough firefighters to cover Friday through Sunday requires the city to call in firefighters on overtime.”
It’s not new news. The audit simply ratifies what has been known. But nothing gets done.
I pointed out at the time that on a single day 35 firefighters ditched their shifts, requiring other firefighters to be brought in at overtime rates. What a disgusting example of public service.
At that time projected overtime costs were put at $5.12 million. I guess the city always has extra money to toss around.
I called the fire department, not a city department, but “a club.” That was eight years ago. I’m sure it was the same the previous eight years. Now, eight years later there is no change. Look as if it may be worse.
A city’s life-and-death service is being in country club fashion.
Mothers and fathers, who want their sons and daughters to become doctors or lawyers, wake up. Get them to be firefighters. What better position could one have but to be a Cleveland firefighter? Work when you want. Live where you like. Do as you please.
It’s a privileged post. One that has to be busted up. NOW!
It’s almost bad enough to make one angry.
Roldo Bartimole celebrates 50 years of news reporting this year. He published and wrote Point of View, a newsletter about Cleveland, for 32 years. He worked for the Plain Dealer and Wall Street Journal in the 1960s.He was a 2004 Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame recipient and won the national Joe Callaway Award for Civic Courage in 1991. [Photo by Todd Bartimole.]
2 Responses to “ROLDO: Teachers Should Be Able to Part-time in Florida & California Under Jackson’s Management Policy”
Joe Fredericks
Hmmmmmm, I know an awful lot of dedicated hard working firemen to think it as widespread as you seem to indicate. Keep in mind they put their lives on the line. Have you ever taken that risk writing Mr. Roldo?
Roldo Bartimole
And isn’t shirking your duty possibly putting some other firefighter in jeopardy.