Let everyone do his or her part to eliminate unnecessary expeditures.
May 10, 2007
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I write to you to urge you to oppose HB 988.
HB 988 would prevent municipalities and fire protection districts from
hiring substitute fire fighters on a part-time basis to supplement the
fire force and fill scheduling holes unless the fire fighter has qualified
for a regular appointment under the Illinois Municipal Code. The
practical affect of this bill would be to eliminate the hiring of a
multitude of part-time fire fighters, even if the fire fighters had
received substantially similar training as required for a regular,
full-time fire fighter.
The amendment to the bill does not remove my opposition. The amendment
makes the matter a "permissive" subject of bargaining, and therefore does
not require the fire union to even agree to negotiate the issue. By
refusing to negotiate, the union ensures that the restrictions over the
use of part-time firefighters apply.
If it were to become law, this bill has the potential to financially break
many departments and fire protection districts because of the limited
funding available to hire full-time firefighters, particularly within
tax-capped jurisdictions. Quite frankly, it can be an annual struggle to
come up with the financial resources necessary for the provision of public
safety services. The ability to staff fire departments and fill shifts is
an inherent right of locally-elected officials as well as one of our most
important obligations. HB 988 as amended is a direct usurpation of a
basic right of management and an encroachment by the state on an issue
that citizens elect local officials to make. HB 988 as amended does not
preserve local control and makes budgeting for municipal needs even more
difficult.
Once again, I urge you to oppose HB 988.
Sincerely,
Posted Thursday May 10, 2007 09:45
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