Story Archive

An Open and Shut Case

The firefighter’s union in Lockport, N.Y., has filed a grievance against the city claiming a contract violation. In the past, fire dispatchers had a button on their consoles that would open the garage doors for the fire trucks. But when the police department took over dispatching responsibilities, the city instead provided remote controls for the fire trucks so firefighters wouldn’t have to call for help to open or close the doors. The firefighter’s union says that “takes work away” from the police. “Essentially, Local 963 is objecting to the option, provided for and installed at city expense, of using one of the fingers of a firefighter to press down on a button located on the remote control device within the cab of every fire apparatus in order to open the overhead doors of the Fire Department, all for the convenience of firefighters,” Mayor Anne McCaffrey summarized for a court filing in the ongoing case. (RC/Buffalo News) ...Essentially, the union is providing fodder for any politician who wants to break unions over their ridiculous demands and objections.