Boston firefighters' contract dispute sent to arbitration

If the firefighters don't want random drug testing fire them. It should be a given. If you work for the state you get tested period. Why should tax payers pay the salary of someone breaking the law. If your clean no problem.

I concur with sickofthewhiners; the most unprofessional of the metro fire departments within the United States-they are also the most unsafe fire department and their lack of "respect" for the job is pathetic

You have NO idea how bad the drug problem is in the fire service. I seen alot in 25 years. You really have no idea. If you have nothing to hide then it should be NO problem for testing. PERIOD. Napping is a great bennie, right guys? Equating job benefits and pay raises to drug testing is plain old GREED. Stop whining. I am surprised that the PFFM has not demanded holiday pay for Sept 11, like the cops get. Wow!

The firefighters do want random drug testing, however, not without a concession by the city. The Police successfully negotiated a contract with the city that included concessions by both sides that included random drug testing. The city does not want to give anything back and is using the media as a mouthpiece to strong-arm the union.

The Boston Police were given the Quinn Bill for agreeing to drug testing- The EMT's/Ambulance were given a bump up in regards to retirement. Why should members of the Boston Fire Department negotiate this contractual issue, which is what it is, away for nothing. Are they supposed to be treated as second class public safety employees. As the wife of a Boston Firefighter for almost 30 years, my husband desires the same consideration and just treatment with regards to contract issues. The release of autopsy records was a breaking of HIPAA , the Federal law regarding the release of private health information. Why has nothing been done to apprehend them!!!!

Totally and utterly absurd that this has to go to arbitration. Two firefighters die while on duty, one is found to have been drunk at the time and the other had cocaine in his system and the union has the TEMERITY to demand a raise before undergoing random drug testing. Totally pathetic. This is the worst side of unions.

It seems to me that most if not all ctizens feel the same way if they are clean no problem if not then get the help you need to get clean and if that fails your outta there. Why put yourself and innocent citizens in dangger because you are a drug addict or an alcoholic? I say random drug and alcohol testing hsould be mandatory

Why would you care if you got tested? T employees do, truckers, do, pilots do, if you don't do drugs - why wouldn't you want testing? I must be missing something.

We are told that the firefighters and their union hacks are in favor of drug testing; it's just that they want to be paid for it. That's ballsy, but maybe this concept should be explored more closely. Perhaps we could pay the firepersons by the number of fires they fight or more money if they climb a ladder versus sitting at a desk in HQ. How about less money for being out of shape and fat? Hello to the current day money grubbing, selfish and entitled mercenary fire fighter. Will fight fire for money! Take your arbitration to hell.

Comment #5: not true. EMS agreed to drug testing about seven years ago- the policy was simply updated this last time around. EMS agreed to less of a pay raise than every other city department got in order for the city to support group 4, but it never passed at the state house. Drug testing has nothing to do with retirement. EMS realized long ago testing was the right thing to do, and agreed to it without a fight so don't go trying to drag them into this one.

Frank L. ... the firefighters have been in contract talks for years with the city not willing to negotiate and trying to mandate drug testing. This was happening long before the fire in West Roxbury. The city desecrated the families of the two firefighters in using it turn public support against the firefighters.

But nobody is listening to the firefighters side of the story and the media continues to pander to city officials.

Paula, get your facts straight. You don't want Hippa you want a code of silence. How would you feel and who would you want to know the facts if someone close to you was also killed in that fire.The union and the firepersons should take the problem of drugs and alcohol seriously. This is an issue of honor and integrity ; not money. Everybody's life depends on it.

The #1 issue the city should bring to the table is that there is a waiting list of thousands of people trying to join the BFD. Supply and demand being so lopsided is proof that firefighters are far overpaid already.

It's suspicious that this arbitration is slipping though two days after an election, though.

You would get the same resistance from City Hall workers if you attempted to require them to submit to random drug testing, so attacking the profession is pointless.

What about prescription drugs? What are the nature of actions taken if a test result comes back positive, is a second sample permitted, or perhaps required? Can a test be refused, what are the consequences? Is judicial review permitted, is the requirement even Constitutionally permissible?

Have any of you thought of any of these things? I doubt it, and I doubt the proponents have either. It's one thing to not have to worry about some jake drunk on duty, it's another thing to lay out a comprehensive policy.

supportyourlocalfirefighter, then shame on you and your union for not conceding to what should be a universal requirement for public safety employees. If the union had agreed to the drug testing when asked then the lives in question would be saved. As it stands lives are still in danger, and that is a bargaining chip you are holding over all Boston residents for your personal financial enrichment, pure and simple.

Sending the contract to arbitration is a joke. Having an out of state arbitrator rule on it is even a bigger joke. Like notafirefighter wrote, 1000s of people sign up to take the test because what other entry level job can you average $90G a year? What other job do you get paid to sleep? How long would these guys last in the dreaded private sector, actually working for a living. Maybe, if the firefighters could have kept themselves out of the headlines the past year or so, they would have more support. More than a few of their own have proven themselves irresponsible with drugs and alcohol and now they want extra money for testing? I would love to come home from my primary job rested enough to work a second job. Stop comparing your contract to other occupations! This is 2008. Us working stiffs whose 401K accounts are down 30% do not want our tax dollars to go to an organization that seems to think they operate in a vaccuum. Don't even get me started on their guaranteed pensions and generous health benefits or the fact they get paid at their supervisor's pay rate. Wouldn't that be nice, your boss takes 2 weeks off and you receive his pay in the interim. Try asking your employer for that arrangement and see how he reacts.

Another option…

Forget drug testing; however, enforce the policy that if the firefighter is found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol then, forfeiture of injury or death benefits. Mayor Manino choose to give the families of the two West Roxbury firefighters’ families the benefits even though the city was not obligated to.

Give the firefighters the choice, work drug/alcohol free or risk losing your injury or death benefits.

It seems a lot of you folks are under the mis guided info that firefighters are against random drug testing, that couldn't be any further from the truth. This issue was on the board long before the tragic fire in West Roxbury. The loss of two firefighters had nothing to do with being under the influence. Look at the attorney Generals report. Hey I understand money is tight for us all and now doesn't seem to be the time to be asking for a raise in these economic times, however this contract expired years ago and at that time the city was doing pretty good. Most firefighters have to live in the city and send their children to lower class schools or pay a fortune or pay a small ransom to send them to a private school. Never mind the ridiculous cost of car insurance. Hey Im all for being a resident prior to getting your job, but you should be able to move after. Getting back to the contract, the city puts money away every year for all city contracts, so claiming no money is BS. Just be fair and reward us the same way you rewarded the police. for the quinn bill, do you remember all the fly by night college degrees the cops were getting. Going to school taught by fellow cops....hmmn We deserve to be trated fairly.