From 2009 to 2012, firefighters in Portsmouth, N.H., were paid millions in overtime for their time and attendance. In 2012 alone, the city doled out $454,508, or 6.5 percent of the total budget for the fire department, in overtime hours.

The large overtime payments were distributed due to leaves of absence by several firefighters. On average throughout 2012, four of the 14 firefighters working each shift were on some kind of leave. To make up for the absences, the remaining firefighters had to work long hours, collecting large overtime fees.

Between 2009 and 2012, some firefighters were paid overtime fees in excess of 50 percent of their base pay.

In response, city officials have proposed a solution that would reduce overtime hours earned by 20 percent. The initiative would curb the amount of earned-time days that build up for firefighters.

Officials have discussed these measures in light of information that firefighters' time-earned includes vacation, sick days and personal time. The city suggested that earned-time should not count toward overtime pay.

The firefighters replied to the city by stating that Portsmouth officials are victimizing workers "by diluting the value of overtime."

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