Mon, Oct 13 2008
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Published July 03, 2008 04:42 pm - Fire Chief Derek Tatum’s reason for taking an engine out of service off and on at Station 3 makes sense. Firefighter fights Fire Chief Derek Tatum’s reason for taking an engine out of service off and on at Station 3 makes sense. The city has a budget that affects every department, including the Fire Department. In these financially hard times, some allowances have to be made to be fiscally responsible.
And Tatum said citizen safety was not compromised by his decision. Muskogee firefighters’ Local 57 filed a grievance Wednesday as a result of the city taking the engine out of service at the station at 24th and Border streets the first couple days of the new fiscal year rather than pay overtime to replace employees on vacation or sick leave. Union President Bryan Fuller offered the union’s reasons for the grievance: The city is endangering citizens by not having the engine in service. The city might lose its low insurance rating. The city chose the engine in that part of town because it serves a large population of elderly, poor and minority residents. And of course, firefighters stand to lose some overtime. We’re sorry the firefighters could lose some income, but Tatum said taking the engine out of service doesn’t close Station 3, which still has a ladder truck operating. Tatum also said two other stations are close and can respond without compromising response time. The city has done this before — and the union complained about it before, too — so it is not something new. As we stated earlier this year when citizens voted a 3 percent pay increase over an 8 percent pay increase for firefighters, Muskogee firefighter salaries are pretty good compared to other salaries in town. They have very good benefits. While we appreciate their service and understand they put themselves in danger frequently, sometimes the firefighters file grievances as if they were weekly reports. The union seems to be at odds with the city over a multitude of issues. And it’s always not clear whose best interests the firefighters have in mind — theirs or citizens’. 
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