From the International Association of Firefighters website, we find a link to new legislation, introduced on 1 October 2007. On the surface, S.2123 looks innocent enough, dealing with the collective bargaining rights of public safety employees.
Only when reading to the 15th page do you find this:
Still puzzled? If passed, this law would empower labor unions of which firefighters, EMS workers, and police officers are members to prohibit their members from engaging in part time work or volunteer activities.
The IAFF stands the most to gain from this, as many union career firefighters volunteer in their off hours. Take away the additional help, and some stations may not be able to man equipment. Career by day, volunteer by night stations may have to go full career. Who gets stuck with the lowered service and/or increased taxes? Joe Taxpayer.
My department has four career union guys-two from a local Navy base, one from a suburban Philly combi department, and a LEO who is cross trained as an EMT. If those guys are prohibited from volunteering, it will hurt my daytime response stats.
What of the cop or firefighter who needs to pick up a few bucks to pay for uncovered medical, help pay off a student loan, or just snag some holiday $?
How about the firefighter or cop who wants to take a vacation and volunteer for a cause such as Habitat for Humanity? What I read says that would be prohibited.
Many thanks to the Presidential candidate co-sponsors of this bill. Bastards.