WPRO News
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza believes city firefighters should be paid more in return for a reduction in the number of platoons per shift.
The Mayor said Monday he is in the midst of negotiations to move Providence from the model of four platoons per shift to three, to help shore up a projected $13.5 million deficit in Fiscal Year 2017. Elorza said the Providence Fire Department is responsible for $9 million in overtime annually.
“There are firefighters alone who in overtime earn close to $100,000,” said Elorza “That’s without bas-salary and pay.”
Under the current agreement, any hours worked above 42 hours a week is considered time-and-a-half overtime. Elorza said of the 756 platoon shifts last year, only six did not need a firefighter called in to work.
According to the Mayor’s proposal, reducing the number of platoons would increase the numbers of firefighters on-call from 100 to 133. Elorza would also increase each work week by 13 hours, eliminating the need to frequently call in firefighters for overtime.
Critics of Elorza’s plan say the move to reduce the number of platoons is unfair, and that firefighters working longer hours should not be shortchanged in their pay.
“I believe that if they are going to work more hours, they deserve to get paid more; that’s just fair” said Elorza.
The Mayor said he hoping to reach a deal which will be amicable to both sides, but says his focus is on the fiscal health of the city.
“By the year 2021, if I do nothing […] we’re going to face a certain fiscal collapse.”
