The UFA is happy to confirm the restoration of 15 five-FF Engines. This took place 4 ? months ahead of the Interim Modification Agreement’s scheduled dates. Effective 0900 hours, on Saturday February 14th, staffing on the following companies’ increased from 4 FFs to 5 FFs: Engines 8, 14, 33, 37, 43, 53, 71, 158, 245, 247, 253, 262, 280, 303 & 308. The NY Times reported the below summary from a live interview of UFA president Steve Cassidy and the Mayor on 77 WABC:
Union Chief Asks Bloomberg Not to Aid His Re-election Bid
For a moment, it seemed as if Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the president of the firefighters' union had put their differences behind them during a joint appearance yesterday on the mayor's radio program to announce increased staffing for engine companies. Mayor Bloomberg declared that the agreement with the Uniformed Firefighters Association showed how people could work together in this city and pointed out that both he and the union leader, Stephen J. Cassidy, were still in their first terms in their respective positions. "Both of us are going to get re-elected, I trust," Mayor Bloomberg said on his weekly program on WABC-AM. "I mean, I hope you'll work for my re-election. Would you like me to work for yours?" But Mr. Cassidy quickly replied, "Uh no, Mr. Mayor. I don't want you to work for mine." Both men laughed, and in the end, the mayor seemed not to take offense. "We just hope they all get home safely every night," the mayor said of the firefighters. "They put their lives at risk to save others, but we have a commitment to them to get them home to their families.
"The Bloomberg administration negotiated an agreement with the 8,600-member union last year to restore a fifth firefighter to 60 engine companies by July 1, in return for a reduction in the amount of sick leave taken by firefighters. City officials said this week that those reductions in sick leave had been made ahead of schedule, allowing for the early restoration of the firefighters to the engine companies. Mr. Cassidy, who called in during show, said that increasing staffing was critical for ensuring the safety of firefighters and city residents. "The difference between a five-man engine and a four-man engine is dramatic," he said. "It actually takes twice as much time for a four-man engine to get water on a fire." Mr. Cassidy said the number of leaves was declining as firefighters with injuries and illnesses retired and younger firefighters took their place in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
