4 ms·

It depends how many crews you have at the firehouse. If you have multiple crews, then maybe. If you're taking the only fire crew at the house out to respond to

by cwyers 11y ago

It depends how many crews you have at the firehouse. If you have multiple crews, then maybe. If you're taking the only fire crew at the house out to respond to this, the whole firetruck needs to come with because if there is a fire, you don't want the crew to have to drive back to the firehouse, get the firetruck ready to go and then go back out to respond to the fire.

djrogers 11y ago
And in many cases, if a city tried to put a (much cheaper) paramedic crew/ambulance in a firehouse to cover calls like this the union would point out that it violates their agreement with the city. So we go on wasting resources, talent, and ability.
- Brian-Puccio 11y ago
  In my suburban NY town, something very similar is happening. There was a federal grant for some paid firefighters a few years ago. The grant expired and the firefighters were laid off. The union complained about how unsafe it was. The city hired consultants to look at the situation and they said most calls were not fires and medical care was needed most. You'd think that would be the end of it, but one of the laid off firefighters is now running for council in a move most everyone reads as a "I'm going to give me and my friends our jobs back, so you should vote for me, otherwise the town will burn to the ground" move.
- lmm 11y ago
  It's weird how Americans seem to have this huge anti-union thing going, and yet the same problems seem to never arise here in Europe, even though we are far more unionized.
  - stefantalpalaru 11y ago
    Maybe it's because the only strong unions left standing after a long campaign against them are those that protect the already privileged categories: law enforcement, firefighters, etc.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    > It's weird how Americans seem to have this huge anti-union thing going, and yet the same problems seem to never arise here in Europe, even though we are far more unionized. Perhaps the American tendency to blame unions is, in part, a direct result of the fact that Americans are less likely to have direct experience with unions. (As well as being a cause of that effect -- its a positive feedback loop.)

by cwyers 11y ago

djrogers 11y ago

And in many cases, if a city tried to put a (much cheaper) paramedic crew/ambulance in a firehouse to cover calls like this the union would point out that it violates their agreement with the city. So we go on wasting resources, talent, and ability.

Brian-Puccio 11y ago
In my suburban NY town, something very similar is happening. There was a federal grant for some paid firefighters a few years ago. The grant expired and the firefighters were laid off. The union complained about how unsafe it was. The city hired consultants to look at the situation and they said most calls were not fires and medical care was needed most. You'd think that would be the end of it, but one of the laid off firefighters is now running for council in a move most everyone reads as a "I'm going to give me and my friends our jobs back, so you should vote for me, otherwise the town will burn to the ground" move.
lmm 11y ago
It's weird how Americans seem to have this huge anti-union thing going, and yet the same problems seem to never arise here in Europe, even though we are far more unionized.
- stefantalpalaru 11y ago
  Maybe it's because the only strong unions left standing after a long campaign against them are those that protect the already privileged categories: law enforcement, firefighters, etc.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > It's weird how Americans seem to have this huge anti-union thing going, and yet the same problems seem to never arise here in Europe, even though we are far more unionized. Perhaps the American tendency to blame unions is, in part, a direct result of the fact that Americans are less likely to have direct experience with unions. (As well as being a cause of that effect -- its a positive feedback loop.)