This is a message from Local 38's Secretary/Treasurer Mike Clendenen to the citizens of Covington:
Citizens of Covington
City of Covington officials recently decided to violate its contractual obligations to the Covington Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 38 by reducing the number of firefighters working each day. This move will undoubtedly cause at least two things to happen: response times for fires and medical emergencies will be delayed, and the danger level for responding firefighters will be increased. Overall, the basic outcome of reducing firefighter staffing is that it’s more dangerous to live in, do business in, or visit Covington.
In 2007, recognizing the need to maintain a minimum level of safe staffing, Covington Firefighters gave major concessions to get the city to agree to a safe minimum manning level. The original signed agreement was set to expire in May, 2012 so once again, in order to get an extension of the original agreement, Local 38 gave further concessions. The extension was signed on Nov. 10, 2010 by City Manager Larry Klein and Mayor Denny Bowman and the agreement is good through December 2014. Local 38 has shown concessions are worth it to put in place such an important agreement that affects their safety. We will live up to our agreement (not asking for our concessions back) and we expect the City of Covington to do the same. The minimum manning agreement was signed as a win-win-win for the firefighters, citizens and the city.
Local 38 attempted to stop the city from reducing safety but were unsuccessful in getting a temporary restraining order. We will continue to pursue this through the court system though this will take even more time than usual due to cuts to the court system. But trust us when we say we will fight this to the end. While testifying in court Fire Chief Chuck Norris would not or could not say that the reduction in staffing will cause harm or injury to a citizen, I do not share his optimism but pray that he is correct.
Covington Firefighters are aware of today’s tough economy and recognize the city’s strained finances. That’s why we entered contract negotiations with the thought of shared sacrifice. Local 38 has offered health care concessions that will save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Local 38 also showed city leaders how to save millions of dollars in overtime costs, payroll expenses, and health care administration. We also offered to forgive millions of dollars in back pay and future wages that the Kentucky Labor Cabinet has ordered the city to pay. All of these offers require tremendous financial sacrifices from the firefighters.
The city has rejected all offers and efforts to work together. The one area we cannot make an offer on is to reduce the safety of our members and the citizens, businesses, and visitors to Covington.
Please understand the men and women of the Covington Fire Dept. will continue to do everything humanly possible to protect the citizens of Covington. We will work harder with less, and continue to be the best Fire/EMS service available. Hopefully, your city officials will not hamper our abilities to do so too much.
Mike Clendenen
Secretary/Treasurer
Covington professional Firefighters
IAFF local 38
SEE ALSO: JUDGE REJECTS FIRE DEPT UNION'S ATTEMPT AT RESTRAINING ORDER
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