Response from Local 559

 

International Association of Fire Fighters

 

To the Draft Financial Plan 2005- 2009

City of Prince Rupert

 

 

February 28th 2005

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

On behalf of the executive and membership of Local 559 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, I would like to take this opportunity to quickly acquaint you to the services we provide and to respond to the city’s recommended financial plan for the years 2005 -2009. In closing I’ll offer our recommendations.

The Prince Rupert Fire Rescue Department utilizes IAFF members to provide prompt quality fire suppression and First Responder emergency pre-hospital health care to all citizens and visitors of Prince Rupert.  We have 20 members in Prince Rupert, and that number has been current since 1974.  Our department’s fire prevention program includes fire safety inspections of business and public buildings.  We maintain specialized skills in Rope Rescue, Auto extrication, Hazmat, and Confined Space just to name a few.  In addition we support local citizens with public education programs to seniors, grade school, and preschool individuals within our community. 

The public consistently finds our members deliver high-quality service.  We as professionals constantly strive to maintain that respect and trust.

Despite levels of turmoil created by various reorganization schemes and other changes, our department and its members have persevered while enduring increased workloads, funding reductions and without additional staffing.

Should council pass this bylaw, integrating it as part of their financial policy, there will undoubtedly be less public service satisfaction of city workers.

The thrust of this city financial plan, however, leaves us concerned about our ability to maintain the quality of service of which we now provide.  The direction of this 5 year plan clearly suggests permanent personnel and service reductions.

We believe it is important to point out that Council’s direction should be different.

Council told taxpayers they would not spend money that they did not have, while promising to operate an open, accountable government.  This appears to date, not to be so.  Subsequently, the mounting Skeena debt, legal fees, undisclosed city travel cost, along with other council driven expenditures has ballooned without review or control.

The Cruise ship dock facility, which comes to mind, was touted by Council as an opportunity for a better tomorrow.  Mayor Pond among others told the taxpayers of Prince Rupert that by pursuing such an endeavor that it would not implicate the reduction in city services or place further increased cost to taxpayers.  We were told it was to have been manageable within the city’s budget.

THE PRINCE RUPERT FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT

I wish now to focus my remarks specifically on the direction taken by this Administration & Council regarding our Fire Services and the direction of the Prince Rupert Fire Rescue Department.

Administration proposes to remove $300,000 cost annually from the budget of the fire Department.  Local 559’s position is clear.  Doing so will have immediate and long-term ramifications. This reduction in money can only be accomplished by the removal of Fire Fighters.  This will drastically impact the safety and the ability of our Fire Fighters to provide the services to the citizens of Prince Rupert in realistic and expected timeframes.

There will be no cost savings, the short-term line item savings will only cost taxpayers more in the long run.  The delayed response that will undoubtedly occur will put the safety issue of our residents and our workers in a precarious position.  Damage to property and the likelihood of injuries too will increase. Then there is the inevitable increase in fire insurance cost homeowners will bear.  This increase along with reduced services will more than wipe out any cost savings projected by council to the taxpayers.

The safety of our members is paramount to our union.  Without sufficient manning our ability is handicapped to provide efficient, time sensitive service to the residents of Prince Rupert. This is not an option we can support.

The Prince Rupert Fire Rescue Department like many departments in our city has faced financial constrictions over the last number of years.  This financial plan continues with reduction in monetary support all the way passed the end of 2009.  The city’s commitment to providing high quality services and a better life for citizens and its employees cannot be sustained by more continued fiscal years of monetary reduction.

WCB safety regulations require specific procedures and manning requirements for safe entry into burning buildings and/or smoke-filled environments.  However, by implementing manpower reductions, there'll be increased delay for fire Fighters to do building entries.  Having just a Fire Department full of shiny equipment does not save lives all by itself.

We believe Council and administration need to take another serious look at the way our services are provided.  We are not simply a private company.  Our mandate is not profit, it is service.  A service that is functionally unable to operate because of monetary reduction is surely a serious problem for a municipality committed to service and equality for all residents.

Our city promotes their desire to bring new people to our community.  Unfortunately by providing less for those that are here, it is creating a disincentive to bring new people, new business, and new financial opportunities to our city and region.

CONCLUSION

IAFF Local 559 believes the citizens of Prince Rupert are prepared to pay higher taxes if necessary, to retain a system of services that they consider excellent.  We support this direction and believe others will too, especially if those taxes can accountably be directed to the necessary areas considered important, and further that money spent for debt reduction be clearly defined in amount and with a specific time line schedule for repayment.

Therefore, the members of local 559 of the International Association of Fire Fighters recommend:

On behalf of our executive and the membership of Prince Rupert IAFF Local 559, I thank you for this opportunity to speak before you today,

 

Sincerely,

 

Calvin Thompson

IAFF President Local 559

Prince Rupert Fire Fighters