Posts tagged Fire Department
Murmurs: PCC Spent $260,000 on Unemployment Benefits During Strike
May 26, 2026 // Senate Bill 916, which allows striking workers to access unemployment insurance during their time on the picket line, made Oregon the first state in the nation to require public employers to pay such benefits. Now we know how much that cost PCC. James Hill, a spokesman for the college, says it estimates it will incur about $260,000 in unemployment claims associated with the strike. (The average striking worker may claim unemployment starting in the third week of a strike, the same week the faculty union’s strike was resolved at PCC.) That number is significantly lower than the $1.45 million the college estimated it might have to pay each week, if all striking workers had filed claims. Public employers, often known as “reimbursing” employers, don’t opt to pay unemployment contributions to the state on a regular basis. Instead, such employers often reimburse the state dollar for dollar, which drove many public agencies to warn that the legislation would financially drain them. And while the state can relieve public employers of costs if they negotiate back pay agreements, PCC opted not to. The strikes at PCC were the first at a community college in Oregon’s history, and may have had broader implications for the institution. PCC president Adrien Bennings voluntarily separated from the college on May 14. The college’s board of trustees voted 6–1 to approve a $261,000 severance package—$1,000 more than it spent on striking workers—among other perks.
Denver library staff fight to unionize amid budget cuts
September 29, 2025 // Many library workers on Wednesday said library staffers are burning out from huge workloads, including caring for homeless or immigrant patrons. “A lot of people know that a lot of library staff are not fairly compensated,” said Jeremey Bongers, an activities coordinator at the library. “There's a lot of the work that people are doing in the vein of social work that is not recognized.”
San Jose city employees prepare for possible strike
July 13, 2023 // The strike school will start at 5:30 p.m. at San Jose First Methodist Church located on Fifth Street, across from the San Jose City Hall. Those attending include 911 dispatchers, library workers, public airport staff, water treatment center staff and union workers who maintain the city’s streets.
Providence firefighter made $142,000 in overtime, pushed his total pay to $230,000
July 12, 2022 // Many fire departments have a minimum staffing clause in their union contracts. The contracts often require that there must be a minimum number of firefighters on duty and any absences that bring staffing below the minimum must be replaced with overtime. Providence Fire Chief Steven Pare, base pay, Providence
Prince William supervisors start in on collective bargaining policy draft
May 31, 2022 // Supervisors Kenny Boddye, D- Occoquan, and Margaret Franklin, D-Woodbridge, took issue with the proposed requirement that certification would require a vote total of more than 50% of employees in the bargaining unit rather than a majority of those who actually vote. “It’s an undemocratic process if a bunch of people don’t vote and they’re counted as an automatic no,” Boddye said.
Chicago mayor warns police to get vaccine by Sunday or lose pay
March 16, 2022 // On Wednesday, when announcing the appeal, Catanzara said: “I don’t know what happens over the next 72 hours. All I can tell you is we are not going to stop punching. This easily can be all averted before this cliff becomes a reality.” Catanzara in recent weeks has sounded the alarm over what he said will be a “bloodbath” in Chicago if his predictions of a mass resignation come true.
Detroit fire official admits spending union money on cruises, flights, furniture, more
December 2, 2021 // During her four-year tenure, Day obtained approximately $167,900 and spent the money while circling the globe, according to the FBI.
Why would a fire union try to extinguish volunteers?
November 20, 2021 //