Ok, this is off the usual topic. This post is about a waste of your federal tax dollars.
Just think of how much of the money they're paying out in overtime could go toward equipment and training and you might just write your congressman! (help a blogger out!)
If Russ gets to come home tomorrow, it will be after 84 hours on shift.If not, he’ll be home Monday after 120 hours on shift.
The slow hiring process at Great Lakes Naval Station has created a staffing crisis.
Civilian Federal Firefighter positions vacated by retiring and resigning firefighters at Great Lakes Naval Station have gone unfilled, resulting in too few staff to cover the shifts. Each day, six firefighters have to work mandatory overtime, just to cover the minimum personnel manning. More firefighters are scheduled to retire this summer, so the problem is going to get worse.
Not only is this causing undue stress on the firefighters at Great Lakes, this is a waste of taxpayer funds as well. It would be much cheaper in the long run to hire a few personnel than to
pay over 2100 hours of overtime each month overall to the overworked firefighters. (and yes, overtime is time-and-a-half)
Many people do not realize that the normal work schedule at the Federal Fire Department at Great Lakes Naval Station is 24 hours on/24 hours off.
Department staffing requirements require 15 firefighters per day. Only 12 firefighters are scheduled each day. The shortage is alleviated by assigning mandatory overtime in 12 hour shifts, so each day 6 firefighters have only 12 hours off between shifts.
Only 12 hours to commute home, spend time with family (if they’re not at work/school), run errands, and commute back to the base! (
or if you get to come home in the evening, only 12 hours to commute home, sleep, and commute back)
Firefighting is a stressful job, and the continuous exposure to this level of stress can take mental and physical tolls and affect job performance. A consistent schedule and regularly scheduled time away from the job are recognized methods* of dealing with the stress.
The firemen who “protect those who defend America” deserve better.*The full text of Effect of Work Related Stress on Firefighter/Paramedic can be obtained on the internet at
http://www.emich.edu/cerns/downloads/papers/FireStaff/Stress,%20Fitness,%20Wellness/Effect%20of%20Work%20Related%20Stress%20on%20the%20Firefighter%20Paramedic.pdf
