East Chicago Firefighters Protesting Outside WJOB In Hammond
East Chicago Firefighters could be seen lined up outside WJOB radio station studios on Indianapolis Blvd in Hammond Friday morning protesting. Firefighters tell Region News they are protesting outside the radio station due to comments made by WJOB morning personality Verlie Suggs Tuesday defending EC Mayor Copeland’s stand on shift work for them saying Copland has no reason to lie.
Firefighters are over 80 days into swing shift work that has not been initiated anywhere else in the country and they say is unsafe to them, citizens of EC, and affects their family life. New firefighters are not being able to complete training due to the schedule and lack of sleep according to Eddie Rivera in last weeks Council Meeting. The Union has asked for numbers showing how utilizing this schedule and the overtime payout has saved money but the Mayor and Fire Chief have not brought forward these figures as of yet.
Firefighters have been keeping a rough estimate of Overtime money spent and they estimate it to be around 50k the first 3 months. The yearly budget for OT is set at 75k. They want the radio station and people of EC to know the alleged lies the administration is telling and comments made by Suggs to be retracted with facts and truth.
I’m sick and tired of public employees stomping their feet and crying every time they don’t get their way.
I worked at the mill and had to work shift work. I was just glad to have a good job. Now, STFU and get back to work. If you don’t like it, quit. I’m sure there are plenty of people that could take your place!
At the mill were you running into fires, making critical life or death decisions, trying to save someone’s life, on no sleep?
Fist off gtfoh with that “I worked at the mill for and had to work shift work.”! You might have had shift work but your shift work was not like the daily rotating shift work going on at the ECFD. Every single day is a different shift for the line personal. The amount of science showing how bad rotating shift work is on someone is overwhelming. How would do you feel if someone shows up to save your loved ones life but makes a mistake because they are sleep deprived. I’m sorry when was the last time your mill work requiring you to make split second decisions that literally can cost someone their life? This is not because they did not get their way! This is because of how dangerous the shift for firefighters to be on.
Being a firefighter and working in the mill are two completely different jobs. This schedule puts the people in the city and the firefighters at risk. 24 on 48 is the standard for departments. On top of that the only reason thief schedule changed was because the mayor was pissed off at the fire department. So the mayor is letting politics get in the way of safety, but we should all just STFU about safety.
Dave, at the mill you weren’t expected to work a midnight shift, be off 8 hours, work a 3-11, be off 8 hours and then work a day shift. And then only get 1 day off then repeat the cycle again.
And I’m sure people aren’t kicking down doors to go work for that kind of schedule or wages. As a matter of fact, the fireman’s union is suppose to protect them from retaliatory actions like this imposed on them on a whim because the mayor is butt hurt. I’m sure you as a former union employee should know this isn’t right.
Dave, I am pretty sure you didn’t have to work mornings on Monday, then have to work afternoons on Tuesday and then nights on Wednesday, getting off on Thurs morning then having to start all over again on Friday working mornings. That is what they are doing to these guys. That is a big difference then working one shift for a week, then switching shifts for another week.
I will bet you never worked a shift like this. For example they work Monday days 7:30am to 3:30pm come back out on Tuesday 3:30pm to 11:30pm come back out the next day Wednesday at 11:30pm to 7:30am Thursday morning then back to days on Friday 7:30am to3:30pm. It keeps going. No sure I am not a firefighter and worked shift work but not like that. It is horrible and not pouting
Before you bad mouth the firefighters of East Chicago about working swing shift. You should learn all the details about it. They don’t work the same swing shift they do in the mills. They way it goes Sunday is days, Monday afternoons, Wednesday mids, and then back Thursday days and repeat. It’s not good for the safety of the city or the welfare of the employees.
Dave, first off, we are still working. Second, I know plenty of people who work at the mill and none of them work this schedule. Third, you say plenty of people will love to take this job yet we’ve already had some leave and even one of the guys who was supposed to be hired decided to turn it down. You should read up on our situation and maybe you’d understand. Check out the ecfd local 365 FB page so you can catch up with everything. Have a great day.
Your comment about these guys “sucking it up” indicates that you have zero knowledge of the schedule of the swing shift that was implemented. Every day is a different shift, not a weekly or monthly rotation, but every day. (Monday days, Tuesday evenings, Wednesday nights and then “off” Thursday as of 0700, and days again on Friday – and the cycle repeats) Try that on for size and see how well you function. I’m sure you’d be the first in line to complain when your family member or their property wasn’t able to be saved because of the sheer exhaustion these guys are experiencing with these shifts or the first to decry what a tragedy when one of them loses their lives trying to help others. And when the taxes go up to pay their overtime you’ll cry and stomp your feet about that I’m sure.
Dave your a idiot. Working at a mill is so different then a fire station. Get your facts straight. When your little pretty ass is laying in bed sleeping the firefighters are out saving lives maybe your or a family member. When your standing outside your house when it’s on fire crying and holding your family, remember who is running into the fire because you weren’t man enough to run back in and put it out. In your wife’s and kids eyes the fireman 🚒 running into the house are more of a man you ever will be.
Dave your a idiot to even compare a mill job to a firefighter job.
I worked there and then went to the mill. They dont do this kind of 8hr schedule to anyone in the mill, and theres no way they could pay me enough to work what Copeland is doing to the ECFD. At least the mill gives you good benefits/healthcare and a good paycheck.
In the Mill? Lol. Trade u any day. I know what goes on there.
Well Dave I bet tour one of the guys who eats up all the overtime when the mill brings contractors in and you just sit on your ass collecting that check right? Because it’s in your contract right? Because your union made that possible right? These guys are entitled to what they want as far as conditions go. So STFU And stop talking like you know how it is cuz you don’t.
I wish it was only regular shift work. We work days today, afternoons tomorrow, and midnight’s the 3rd day and then start over, days, afternoons and then midnight’s,. Never 2 days off in a row unless you call off or have vacation. So have you ever worked 2 days, 2 afternoons and 2 midnight’s all in 1 week, I think not.
You are an idiot… plane and simple. Read everyone’s comments, maybe you’ll figure it out.
And how can they quit? The new hires can’t complete their training because of the schedule 🤷🏻♀️
Did you switch shifts everyday?
Dave, may I suggest to you that you keep your ignorant opinions to yourself??! Big fricking deal…you worked at the mill, shift work…did anyone’s life depend on you being there? Were you called upon to rescue anyone on a moment’s notice? Were you there every single day?? I sincerely doubt it. You sound like a complete moron and should probably just mind your own business. These firefighters were given 2 days notice to their schedule change…a schedule that NO other city in the entire country goes by. They were given this new schedule as retaliation from the mayor all because the union backed his opponent in the elections. Anyone who doesn’t have a little compassion for these men & women are just as bad as that douchebag mayor.
Working in the mill and people depending on you to save their lives are completely different jobs.
Anybody can do your job. It takes special training to do what they do .
What happened to Dave, the Verlie Suggs of Region News? ANYtime the E.C. firefighters, or ANY firefighter needs my support, I’ll gladly give it to them. Cope the dope will be sorry one of these days when the citizens realize what the results of his stupidity caused.