The Sunday Herald article by Rikki King on firefighters’ labor disputes and the Everett mayor’s prerogatives once again points out the fire service union attempts to dictate staffing levels not only in Everett but throughout the U.S.
After following local efforts to establish a regional fire service authority, no information that I have researched or otherwise located on the subject for eight years supports the fire service positions.
No community from San Diego to Everett, to New York and Connecticut that I have researched appears to support the fire service demands and staffing levels other than maybe the ISO municipal grading schedule and it certainty has no requirements for medic staffing.
Smaller cities with a lesser industrial and commercial base simply do not have the financial base to support fire service demands.
All of their demands appear to be solely generated internally to feed the myth that more is better. From a medical aid standpoint staffing above a certain minimal level there appears to provide no gain.
Fire station location and manning is based on many factors including increase and decreases in demand in a specific area which can change significantly over time.
Therefore, the dividing line between union and management prerogatives that needs to be observed especially by the fire service.
Wil Nelson
Mill Creek
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
