Heard in the Hall

Nutter: Fire union stirring "hysteria"

Mayor Nutter denounced an ad campaign by the city's firefighters' union as "akin to someone shouting fire in a crowded theater."

21 comments

Nutter: Fire union stirring "hysteria"

POSTED: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2:51 PM

Jeff Shields

Mayor Nutter denounced an ad campaign by the city's firefighters' union as "akin to someone shouting fire in a crowded theater."

Following a press conference on a new fund-raising effort to keep city pools open, Nutter addressed a campaign by Local 22 of the International Association of Firefighters that includes a dramatization of a woman calling 911 to report a fire only to learn that the nearest ladder company had been eliminated and she would have to wait for the next closest one.

"I think it is unfair that the union would engage in those kind of scare tactics," said Nutter, saying the fire issue was about overtime, not safety.

"This is virtually akin to someone shouting, 'Fire!' in a crowded theater," Nutter said, questioning whether the union was "Trying to create more public hysteria," with tough contract negotiations coming up.

Nutter also rejected any effect of a no-confidence vote the union against Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.

"I get to appoint the Fire Commissioner. He is the fire commissioner, and he's going to stay the fire commissioner," Nutter said.

Brian McBride, Local 22's president, said Nutter could dispel much of the union's concern if he turned over raw data used in the city's decision to close five engine companies and two ladder companies. No fire houses were closed, though McBride pointed out that five firehouses without engines have no ability to put out fires. Nutter has said the city has provided all the information it has to give.

Regarding Nutter's theater comment, McBride shot back: "What he’s trying to do with this plan is the same as lighting a furnace in the back of the theater without checking to make sure it was safe. It’s absolutely dangerous."

"This isn’t scare tactics," McBride said. "We’re scared."

McBride said the campaign is not about negotiations, sand said "it’s only a matter of time before we lose a life."

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21 comments

Comments (21)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:06 AM, 02/06/2009

Good point Philly Resident 19146. Of course, the City should go after tax delinquints too. However, that is a politcally tricky issue since many constituents of District City Council members are poor and delinquint on property taxes. There is gridlock in Philadelphia City government mainly because of bullying unions and selfish District Councilmembers. City Council consists of 17 members, 10 are District Council Members.

— Yak

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:10 AM, 02/06/2009

Look...believe it or not, having on duty fire fighters is somewhat of a luxury. Most smaller communities do not have that. Instead, they have volunteer firemen, who work different jobs, and are called when a fire breaks out. They have to drive to the station when they are called, change into their gear, and then respond to fire. Let's keep things in perspective here. We still have it better than most communities.

— navigator

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:13 AM, 02/06/2009

You'll listen to those who put us in this mess, but you won't listen to the very men and woman, who fight fires and save live. That bothers me. Mikey.

— FJG JR

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:14 AM, 02/06/2009

There are other ways to save money then by reducing fire protection in this city. Why does the city need 17 city council positions and their staff? How much does it cost the taxpayers to fund city council?

— rscherf1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:10 PM, 02/07/2009

I don't think that any men running into burning buildings to save a stranger is worried about how much overtime he can look forward to. That was a low blow. How are these cuts safe now when they were unsafe just a few years ago? Also, a city this large and this packed together has to have a fast response to prevent another big osage ave. fire.

— madsav

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:13 PM, 02/07/2009

How about going collecting the money owed to this city first.Or the mayors staff? Or City councils staffs? I'll listen to those charged with firefighting and how safe it is on this subject before a politician. The old commissioner said the department was cut to the bone years ago.

— madsav