Arbitrator Upholds DC Firefighter Concerns
Wednesday, February 26, 2014(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
DC Firefighters won a
resounding victory
when a recent arbitration decision adopted all of the union’s positions over
those of the DC Fire Department. The arbitrator reserved particularly strong
language for a proposed shift change that raises “serious potential safety
concerns.” IAFF Local 36 has appealed the Public Employees Relations
Board’s
(PERB) initial opinion that hours of work are non-negotiable and although the
arbitrator ruled in favor of Local 36, his decision will be non-binding should
PERB continue to uphold its earlier decision. However, Local 36 president Ed
Smith warned that “For the Department to move ahead with the proposed 3/3/3
shift change without addressing the serious concerns identified in the
Arbitrator’s decision would be reckless and put the residents and visitors of
the District of Columbia at risk.” photo: Metro Council
president Jos Williams
(left) congratulates IAFF president Ed Smith (right) after swearing him in as a
delegate to the Council; photo by Chris Garlock