Again, let it go. Arguements like this are demeaning to both firefighters and police officers everywhere. Both groups are valuable, hardworking people who try to support our families to the best of their ability. Both groups deserve to be paid more than they are being given today. Enough already!
Will the Enterprise have a front page article on the pay raise the police just got. What pay raise ...ooh no one has reported it??... the police are now making $50 per hour 'mandated by the city' on their part time job at businesses. City hall has no 'mandate' for firefighters part time job salaries?? Since we want to compare now... let's compare
Obviously you have no clue what you are talking about. The city does not mandate officer's off-duty salary. That is a union decision and it is usually made between the Beaumont PD, Port Arthur PD and the Sheriff Department. The officers decide what they will work for off-duty between the agencies and they usually change rates at the same time. It is not regulated by the city.
The hourly rate is $30 per hour, not $50. The officers schedule their off-duty jobs ahead of time and most of them are regular jobs with regular hours. For example an officer on his off day might have a regularly scheduled job at a department store providing security. I can assure you that it is $30 per hour not $50. The officers have a $50 per hour rate if someone calls in at the last minute. So if someone calls in at Noon tomorrow and says that they need two officers for an event that night, the officers charge $50. If the person doesn't want to hire the officers, let them use security guards. There is no one forcing someone to hire off-duty officers.
Police officers make those rates for off-duty work while acting as state licensed police officers. What job is it that the firefighters want to do while acting as licensed firefighters while off-duty? Is there really a market for hiring firefighters to act in a firefighting capacity while off-duty?
Let it go. We don't need to make our point on the backs of our BPD brothers and sisters. I believe we can stand on our own issues and make change happen. I wish the BPD the best.
Will the Enterprise have a front page article on the pay raise the police just got. What pay raise ...ooh no one has reported it??... the police are now making $50 per hour 'mandated by the city' on their part time job at businesses. City hall has no 'mandate' for firefighters part time job salaries?? Since we want to compare now... let's compare
I have to say, as a representative, the new reporter that covers Firefighter issues (D. Dixon) is very fair in her reports. She has reported the facts as she sees them, and she does her homework on this issue.
The problem that I am having is with the Opinions Page. There has been bias from the beginning. His opinion is his opinion, but he is still responsible for doing his homework and educating himself on the issues in which he has comments about.
Also, I believe that you should represent and print the percentages of opinions that are sent in to you. That definitely has not been the case with this issue.
As a Beaumont Firefighter with many years on the job we have received the ultimate insult from City Council. Voiding our contract. We have never gotten the respect that we deserve from the city but I hear comments from citizens all the time that they totaly support us. We will always be here for them. When I came to work here we made the exact same pay as the police. After many years on the job I find myself making over $11,000 less per year than a police officer in the same grade and same years of service. He makes double time and a half for working holidays. I get straight time back as a vacation day. He gets much more vacation for his years of service. I get the same vacation as a rookie firefighter. If we were to get the 27% pay increase I would still make less money than a police officer in the same grade. Sure the city manager has a good relationship with the police union. He always takes care of them. Where is the justice!
It is well known that the Enterprise does not have reporters. All they have are runners that pick up and deliver press releases from BISD, City Hill, and the County courthouse and bring them to the newspaper for publication, disguised as news.
This area needs print news competition. And no, the Examiner is not competition. That ultra liberal print blog and society rag would not know news if it hit them on their head.
My question is why does the editor of the Enterprise insist on spreading the city manager's propaganda? Why would a reporter, who has supposedly taken an oath, report to the public a list of half truths and misleading statements. When the city tried to compare the Beaumont Firefighters and their benefits to other cities last month, they used different cities for each comparison. You can prove any point you want when you cherry pick the cities for each comparison. The editor fell right in line with his Sunday editorial.
He has also been misguided with the firefighter's pay scale. I don't know what benefits are thrown in, but I can guarantee, that's not just wages as written in the contract. Yet, it has become the truth to the editor because the manager reported it that way.
I also know that the FFs have left PD out of the argument, but since the editor mentioned it, I will also. Just to the fact that the editor should do some research and find the pay scales of PD and the FFs. A little homework and he may change his misleading statements. There is nobody in PD that would change pay scales with the FFs.
All I can ask is that the editor do a little research before buying into the truth "according to city hall". I know this is an opinon's page, but when you report half truths, you lose much of your credibility.
One last thought, why not mention the ethicial, or possibly unlawful part of what city council did last week. Does this not seem just a bit wrong to the editor?
Actually, the PD makes more money right now that the Beaumont FF's on the pay scale. They will gain even more ground with their new "negotiated" contract coming up. One can't blame them for playing it "safe". Somehow, I bet they do lose positions on this one. That's how the city manager plays it. Give with one hand and take away with the other. Looks good in the press.
It is a pretty well known fact that the Police union has given up most of their benefits over the years in exchange for money. One of the things given up was binding arbitration. This is the reason that they make more per hour than the firefighters and why they must go to the voters when they want something above what the City is willing to give them.
Have the Beaumont police ever had binding arbitration? I thought only the Port Arthur police are the only CLEAT affiliated association that has binding arbitration.
Giving up what benefits in exchange for money? I thought money was the benefit. It sure seems to be with teh firefighters.
Actually I believe the police will do well this contract. Kyle has said too many times publicly what a great relationship and success he has had with PD negotiations. For him to low ball them now and have a difficult contract would probably be his final undoing. I believe the police are pretty safe to ask for anything within reason. Kyle will probably handle this negotiation personally and treat them with the utmost respect to avoid any chance of a falling out.
It is a pretty well known fact that the Police union has given up most of their benefits over the years in exchange for money. One of the things given up was binding arbitration. This is the reason that they make more per hour than the firefighters and why they must go to the voters when they want something above what the City is willing to give them.
Well now, boys and girls. Little did I know when I posted on the 11th that on the 12th the Happy Buddha was going to catch fire. So now's the chance for those bold and beautiful city council members to go inside and see up close and personal what those brave Beaumont firefighters faced yesterday. Put themselves into those fireboots, bunker gear and walk inside. Smell it. Feel it. Live it. Be sure that you push city manager Hayes in the front door first so he can walk point to get a good look around. Then go back to the bargaining table and give your firefighters that well deserved payraise. You haven't got a decent bone in your body if you can't. By the way, do you remember the Red Carpet Hotel fire? Who do you think put that blaze out? Neighbors with gardenhoses?
Let's straighten a few things out. 1. the police have 20.88% put toward their retirement by the city~ fireman 13%. 2. Police get to work more overtime than fireman, so the same grade has a much higher salary. It's time to stop comparing base and start looking at 1040 forms. 3. Fireman don't have a 'guarantee' of $20-$30 an hr. protecting the mall and every other store or nightclub in Beaumont for a guaranteed unlimited part time job. 4. Police have had to give up most of the officers jobs they 'use' to have for their congenial raises in the past. 5. Ask a fireman whether he would trade his wages, benefits, overtime, hours, guaranteed part time income for a police officers and you might be surprised at the answer. Of course at this point is when the city comes in and says you can't compare the two...conveniently...but they sure seem to want to compare the
I think the firefighters have shown what a class act they are by not dragging the Beaumont PD into this ugly battle. The city manager has certainly shown what happens when you go up against city hall. Hang in there, firefighters! The public supports you more than you will ever know!
Okay, so council throws an existing contract out the door. That way the firefighters will just sit down, negotiate, and sign another piece of paper. Council will go for it. It is apparant the management team Hayes/Cooper has a handle on that. If the firefighters go for that ploy then they don't quallify to put my doghouse out if it catches fire. As for the police, they might do well to reread the part about "evergreen clause".
The next time one of the city council gets a opportunity to pass by a burned out building they should stop........get out.......walk up to the building......smell it......rub it on their face.....then make them go home and imagine what they just did is a job that they should do for 20 to 30 years and then retire.
The Beaumont firefighters deserve their raise and should receive it immediately. What the city coucil is doing is hateful and wrong. It's sort of like the current US Congress situation regarding our troops in Iraq.........they want the best military in the business......but refuse to pay for it. That is EXACTLY what the Beaumont city council is doing to their firefighters.........they want Cadillac performance at Volkswagen prices. The Beaumont city manager should have his office moved to the South Park fire station on Woodrow and live with those brave fire-eaters for a week to gain the proper respect for their job.
All firestations should have the address of all the council members posted on their walls and when called to respond to one of those addresses...............drive slow.
What is wrong with a independent person sitting down with two sides when they cannot agree? Parents do this with their children, counselors do this daily with couples, ministers with members with their congregation. Maybe the city manager is the one who does not play well with others and cannot sit down faithfully with the firefighters.
The Beaumont City Council voted 6-0 to cancel its contract with the Beaumont firefighter's union this week.
Next month it's the cop's turn.
Sgt. Mike Mills, the newly elected president of the Beaumont Police Officers Association, doesnt feel that the same thing will happen to his union members saying "we have always had a good relationship with the city manager.
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