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Clearwater, Florida firefighters have asked their brothers and sisters across Florida to stay out of Clearwater and that have agreed. Next stop, the nation, asking for a boycott from the IAFF at its August convention in Las Vegas.

The state vote happened last week in Tampa and was unanimous, according to Bob Carver, president of Florida Professional Firefighters. The association has previously taken similar action against Hollywood and Jacksonville.

Here's some of what's behind it in excerpts from a TBO.com article:

"Don't vacation, visit or be in Clearwater," Carver said. "It's only when a city has a callous disregard for the safety and health of its firefighters that we take this action."

The union representing Clearwater's firefighters has long had a contentious relationship with Fire Chief Jamie Geer and City Manager Bill Horne.

For example, Clearwater Firefighters' Association Local 1158 didn't think two paramedics should have been fired in 2005 for opting not to respond to a call made by a mentally unstable woman known to make bogus 911 calls when a police officer was helping the woman commit herself.

Now, the union says, the city is offering a zero percent increase for the firefighters' next contract and, as a result, the city and firefighters are at impasse. In addition, the city is not allowing firefighters to hold the annual "Fill the Boot" drive to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, also known as Jerry's Kids.

"Zero percent," said David Hogan, secretary and treasurer of the local. "That was the straw that broke the camel's back."

But that doesn't mean firefighters won't see an increase in their paychecks, said Doug Matthews, city spokesman.

Firefighters, for instance, will continue to get so-called step increases – a 5-percent step increase for each of the first five years of employment, followed by a 2 1/2 percent increase every other year up to 17 years.

The union also wants extra pay if firefighters are asked to do other people's jobs, even if those other jobs pay less than what the firefighters earn regularly. They want overtime for meetings and training, even if they haven't worked their allotted hours by the time the meeting or training session comes around, Matthews said. And they want two-hour lunch breaks.

As for the muscular dystrophy benefit, no solicitors, regardless of who they represent, are allowed to ask for money along city streets in accordance with a city ordinance designed to maintain public safety, Matthews said.

"There's no coincidence that this comes as we are right in the middle of impasse," Matthews said of the Florida Professional Firefighters action. "This is a typical union tactic to personally attack the people that are in charge to try and get their way."

# posted by Dave Statter @ 2:09 PM