Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

East St. Louis firefighters upset by lack of OT

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Some firefighters are upset because they said city officials are once again violating their contract by not paying them overtime but allowing police officers to work overtime.

"We've been told we will not be called out, for overtime," said Jason Blackmon, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 23. "We went to the city manager (Robert Betts) and asked whether we could work overtime, when necessary, and be paid our overtime wages at a later date. He said that was not an option."

Dennis Butler, president of Fraternal Order of Police Local 126, said union police officers are working overtime hours, but have not been paid for the time as yet.

"We are told we will be paid by Nov. 15," Butler said.

City Councilman Roy Mosley said the Police Department has used $105,000 of the $150,000 that the council voted to put into the department. He said the department has $45,000 left and he's been assured by the Assistant Police Chief Aubrey Keller that the department will be able to work with the money that is left in the overtime budget.

Betts could not be reached for comment.

Mayor Alvin Parks noted the city's deficit of $2.7 million and asked, "How can you pay what you don't have?"

Blackmon said he received word last month that firefighters will no longer be allowed to work any overtime. Blackmon said when someone calls off sick or in the event of a fire where additional help is needed, overtime is not an option.

"That's a violation of our union contract, Section 5.5., which requires a 58 member Fire Department and 12 members per shift.

"If anyone calls in sick, goes on vacation or sick leave, we would be short of manpower. And, we're being told that we can not call anyone in," Blackmon said.

Blackmon said he is upset and understands why others in the department are upset.

"Again, the city has asked us to be fair and we're doing that. They asked us to be real with them and again they violate our contract," he said.

Fire Chief William H. Fennoy confirmed that the department will no longer be allowed to work overtime. And, like Blackmon, Fennoy has heard complaints about the new mandate.

Fennoy said all four firehouses were open Thursday but that different firehouses are closed when there is a shortage of manpower.

"It depends on which one is strategically prudent to close," he said.

When Fennoy was asked whether he felt residents are safe when the department works with a shortage of manpower, he said, "It's always an extra work responsibility on the manpower you have left when you have less than four engine houses open."