A recent article in the Sun-Times highlights a disagreement between the city administration and firefighters during contract negotiations. One of the proposals under discussion is to reorganize 60 of the 95 engine companies into 4-man units, assuming that Engines 91 and 116—located with squad companies—are excluded. This change would significantly alter how some fire stations operate.

The proposal also includes converting all 15 of the department’s BLS ambulances into ALS ambulances, which would require additional training and staffing.

Almost four months after losing their prominent fire commissioner who supported them, Chicago firefighters now have a clearer picture of what Mayor Rahm Emanuel is demanding as their contract expires on June 30.

Emanuel’s proposed changes include cutting back on key union benefits such as holiday pay, duty availability pay, clothing allowances, premium pay, and the physical fitness incentive. The plan also targets the 7% pay increase for cross-trained firefighter paramedics.

A former union official estimated that these changes could cost an average firefighter around $7,000 annually.

While the mayor’s plan doesn’t involve closing fire stations, it does propose reducing the minimum staffing levels at “double houses”—units that house both engines and trucks—from 10 to 9 firefighters. This change has raised concerns, as it echoes the staffing issue that led to the 1980 firefighters’ strike.

The current contract requires at least five personnel on every fire apparatus. Under the new proposal, double houses would be staffed with nine firefighters instead of ten.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel stated that any new contract for Chicago firefighters must include cost-cutting measures to improve the department’s efficiency. However, the firefighters’ union is strongly opposing the city’s proposal.

The current firefighters’ contract is set to expire on June 30. The union argues that the city’s offer would eliminate several types of extra pay and reduce the number of firefighters stationed at certain firehouses.

In a letter to union members, Firefighters Union Local 2 President Thomas Ryan called the proposals “insulting” and “ridiculous.” He noted that the city wants to remove various pay supplements, including the clothing allowance, the 7% increase for cross-trained firefighters, and the “duty availability” pay that compensates firefighters for being on call during their days off.

The proposal also suggests reducing the number of firefighters in “double houses” from 10 to 9, according to Ryan’s letter, which makes no mention of station closures.

“I have a responsibility to all the people of the city of Chicago,” Emanuel said at a press conference announcing GE Transportation’s move to the city. “Not just a few or one part of the city, but everyone. I need to make sure the taxpayers and residents are represented. That’s my job.”

“I respect what Tom (Ryan) has to do, and I respect the firefighters as city employees,” the mayor added. “But I have to make the necessary changes for the future, not just keep doing things the way we used to because that’s how we did them.”

Last year, former Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff had strongly opposed any reduction in manpower, arguing that lowering staffing levels would endanger both firefighters and residents. However, Hoff retired in February, and new Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago has taken a More flexible stance. “There are many studies about what is safe and what isn’t,” Santiago said at his first press conference.

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