OT: Public pay & benefits

[Anonymous]

From OC:

http://www2.ocregister.com/articles/overtime-firefighters-fire-2374818-percent-ocfa

records show that a key factor behind the growth of overtime is the enhancement of pension benefits granted to firefighters in 2001. The pension benefits have boosted the cost of each firefighter dramatically, simultaneously discouraging the agency from new hires and encouraging more early retirements.

The huge pensions are actually reducing the number of firefighters, making it even harder to someone get a job as a firefighter.

Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784. Overtime made up $36,488 of that.

So one solution to current fiscal problems would be to go back to comparable blue-collar wages.

In 2001, Fire Authority board members enhanced retirement benefits to allow sworn staff to retire at age 50, with an annual pension that can mirror final salary. Overtime is not included in pension calculations, officials said.

Retire at 50 with $100K+ pension. Do the math. That is worth a few million dollars.

The article had no mention of firefighters leaving the profession for more lucrative careers as Realtors.

Why did I pick this article? I googled “firefighter overtime retirement” and this was the first result. There are many, many more.

It’s a national epidemic. It was a big factor in the downfall of our steel industry and our auto industry, and now it has spread to government.

[jficquette]

[quote=CA renter]1. They aren’t “personal errands,” no matter how many times you try to repeat it.

2. They are usually coming from a call or training exercise when they stop by the store, so they are not wasting any money.[/quote]

Are there rules about where about where they can take the vehicles on non fire fighting trips?

Are trips logged to show where when and why the vehicle was taken out of the station or from point to point?

I have never seen them fill up with fuel. Do firehouses have fuel pumps or do they go to a gas station?

Just curious on how it all works since we are on the subject.

John

[jficquette]

[quote=CA renter]1. They aren’t “personal errands,” no matter how many times you try to repeat it.

2. They are usually coming from a call or training exercise when they stop by the store, so they are not wasting any money.[/quote]

Are there rules about where about where they can take the vehicles on non fire fighting trips?

Are trips logged to show where when and why the vehicle was taken out of the station or from point to point?

I have never seen them fill up with fuel. Do firehouses have fuel pumps or do they go to a gas station?

Just curious on how it all works since we are on the subject.

John

[jficquette]

[quote=CA renter]1. They aren’t “personal errands,” no matter how many times you try to repeat it.

2. They are usually coming from a call or training exercise when they stop by the store, so they are not wasting any money.[/quote]

Are there rules about where about where they can take the vehicles on non fire fighting trips?

Are trips logged to show where when and why the vehicle was taken out of the station or from point to point?

I have never seen them fill up with fuel. Do firehouses have fuel pumps or do they go to a gas station?

Just curious on how it all works since we are on the subject.

John

[jficquette]

[quote=CA renter]1. They aren’t “personal errands,” no matter how many times you try to repeat it.

2. They are usually coming from a call or training exercise when they stop by the store, so they are not wasting any money.[/quote]

Are there rules about where about where they can take the vehicles on non fire fighting trips?

Are trips logged to show where when and why the vehicle was taken out of the station or from point to point?

I have never seen them fill up with fuel. Do firehouses have fuel pumps or do they go to a gas station?

Just curious on how it all works since we are on the subject.

John

[jficquette]

[quote=CA renter]1. They aren’t “personal errands,” no matter how many times you try to repeat it.

2. They are usually coming from a call or training exercise when they stop by the store, so they are not wasting any money.[/quote]

Are there rules about where about where they can take the vehicles on non fire fighting trips?

Are trips logged to show where when and why the vehicle was taken out of the station or from point to point?

I have never seen them fill up with fuel. Do firehouses have fuel pumps or do they go to a gas station?

Just curious on how it all works since we are on the subject.

John

[sdrealtor]

“Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784”

OK I didnt think I was making this up. Median income of about $140K plus rich retirement benefits among 814 forefighters. Where do I sign up and how did I not see that line when I graduated from High School?

[sdrealtor]

“Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784”

OK I didnt think I was making this up. Median income of about $140K plus rich retirement benefits among 814 forefighters. Where do I sign up and how did I not see that line when I graduated from High School?

[sdrealtor]

“Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784”

OK I didnt think I was making this up. Median income of about $140K plus rich retirement benefits among 814 forefighters. Where do I sign up and how did I not see that line when I graduated from High School?

[sdrealtor]

“Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784”

OK I didnt think I was making this up. Median income of about $140K plus rich retirement benefits among 814 forefighters. Where do I sign up and how did I not see that line when I graduated from High School?

[sdrealtor]

“Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year the Fire Authority’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784”

OK I didnt think I was making this up. Median income of about $140K plus rich retirement benefits among 814 forefighters. Where do I sign up and how did I not see that line when I graduated from High School?

[sdrealtor]

Thats right I was in NJ. How was I to know that career included lifetime vacation rights in SoCal.

[sdrealtor]

Thats right I was in NJ. How was I to know that career included lifetime vacation rights in SoCal.

[sdrealtor]

Thats right I was in NJ. How was I to know that career included lifetime vacation rights in SoCal.

[sdrealtor]

Thats right I was in NJ. How was I to know that career included lifetime vacation rights in SoCal.

[Author]

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