City passes new time and attendance policy, cuts firefighter overtime
West Virginia's Charleston Fire Department is facing overtime cuts under a plan recently passed by the city council, according to the Charleston Daily Mail. The move will add more than $500,000 to the city's underfunded firefighter pension plan.
Firefighters were previously paid overtime wages for working any unscheduled shift. Under the new measure, they will have to put in more than 212 hours of employee attendance in a 28-day period before becoming eligible to be paid at an overtime rate.
Councilman Bill Kirk, who opposed the cuts, argued they were equivalent to a salary decrease for firefighters.
"We should be putting money into our employees' pockets instead of taking it out," he said, as quoted by the news source.
In another change to the department's time and attendance policy, employees will receive an additional vacation day. Those employed by the city for 14 years or less will be granted seven vacation days, while those with upward of 15 years' employment will receive nine days.
According to WCHS-AM, fire chief Chuck Overstreet expressed concern about how lower staffing levels would affect safety, as the plan could create situations where only two men are on call.
Firefighters were previously paid overtime wages for working any unscheduled shift. Under the new measure, they will have to put in more than 212 hours of employee attendance in a 28-day period before becoming eligible to be paid at an overtime rate.
Councilman Bill Kirk, who opposed the cuts, argued they were equivalent to a salary decrease for firefighters.
"We should be putting money into our employees' pockets instead of taking it out," he said, as quoted by the news source.
In another change to the department's time and attendance policy, employees will receive an additional vacation day. Those employed by the city for 14 years or less will be granted seven vacation days, while those with upward of 15 years' employment will receive nine days.
According to WCHS-AM, fire chief Chuck Overstreet expressed concern about how lower staffing levels would affect safety, as the plan could create situations where only two men are on call.
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