Call to Action - PFD, IAFF Local 799 Contract

TO: Mayor David Cicilline, Hon. John J. Lombardi, City Council President and the City Council of the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

FROM: The Undersigned Citizens of the United States of America


The enclosed petition is being sent to you to request that you take immediate action to enter contract negotiations with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 799, for the purpose of creating and ratifying a fair contract with the members of the Providence Fire Department.

We, the undersigned, bring to your attention the fact that the men and women of the Providence Fire Department have:

1. Been without a contract and without a pay raise for the last five years demonstrating that they have been infinitely patient in awaiting resolution to this issue.
2. Endured going to work in firehouses that are in desperate need of repair. It is known that at least one fire fighter suffered an injury on a staircase that has had a work order out on it for NINE YEARS. We find this to be entirely unacceptable. These men and women face enough hazards on the job without having to suffer injuries in their own firehouses.
3. Have already said that they would pay into their healthcare benefits which was one of your chief reasons for holding out on ratifying a contract with them. (As an aside, we also feel that they should not have to pay into their benefits their jobs place them at risk for many conditions that require medical attention. It should be provided to fire fighters and police officers at no cost!)
4. Are members of one of the busiest fire departments in the nation.
5. Deserve to be well paid and well taken care of for their selfless dedication to their jobs and to the public.

We, the undersigned, implore you to take immediate action to negotiate with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 799, for a contract that is:
1. fair to all parties concerned.
2. Will include a pay raise for all members of the Department, preferably retroactive.
3. Takes into consideration the special hazards that these brave men and women face for the safety of strangers every day.
4. Will include a plan for assessment of and repairs to all station houses which are so desperately needed.
5. Will take into consideration that upon retirement, these men and women are not eligible for Social Security, therefore their pensions must provide for them adequately.
6. Will take into consideration the fact that many of the members of the PFD have homes set up, with children in schools in other cities and this should NOT be an issue. File clerks and tax assessors are a dime a dozen it takes a special kind of person to dedicate their life to the fire service (and the police force) and they should NOT be made to pull up stakes and move to Providence.
Recently, pay raises were issued for many employees of the City of Providence. We feel that this was entirely unfair and can only be rectified by an immediate call to action to make sure that Providences Bravest are well cared for. Its the least we can do for them. Please work with them and be open to new ideas.
We look forward to hearing from you regarding our concerns and hope that you will work to resolve this gross injustice swiftly.