Firefighters could set limits on service calls

From KGNS News
The City of Laredo has received a letter from the firefighters union saying they will not be responding to EMS or fire service calls anywhere outside city limits.
City and county officials are calling this absurd and saying what they’re threatening to do is against federal law.

The City of Laredo received a notice of termination of fire and EMS services outside of the City of Laredo within the next 60 days from the firefighter’s union. The city has an ongoing contract with Webb County that doesn’t expire until September 30, 2010.
And under this collective bargaining agreement there will be harsh penalties for those union members who decide to go on strike.

Because failing to report for duty is against federal law the union could be fined up to $20,000 and order of any forfeiture of any membership dues up to a year and the firefighter loses any pay increases for up to a year after returning to work, plus 2 years probation.

Commissioner Tijerina represents the rural areas that would most be affected and she says what the union is threatening to do is very wrong. “To me it’s a very serious decision they’re making and the decision is not going to stand.”

Firefighters have responded to several county calls this year, almost 25,000 EMS calls, approximately 8,000 fire calls and a little more than 10,000 EMS assists.

“Commissioner Tijerina says this a public safety issue that affects more than 250,000 Laredo and Webb county residents and an estimated 15,000 people who cross here everyday to work or shop.”

If fire or EMS services are not going to be provided to those rural areas Tijerina says people and truck drivers may not be willing to take a chance traveling to Laredo for fear an accident happens where they would need emergency help. And that could really hurt our local economy.

“That’s going to make people deviate coming through the City of Laredo. Deviate and go through some other ways.”

We did contact the president of the firefighters union for comment… But he refused to do so. City Manager Carlos Villarreal is reserving comments until the city attorney has formally responded to the firefighters union. This issue is set to be discussed at the city county meeting in January.