FDNY Firefighter’s Union Blasts Congestion Pricing Partly Due to Increase in Overtime

According to the unions that represent FDNY firefighters and fire officers, the city’s new congestion pricing plan for vehicles entering lower Manhattan is going to increase overtime and response times for the almost 40 fire companies in the congestion pricing zone. The congestion pricing plan—which began last Sunday—charges drivers $9 per day per vehicle when they enter lower Manhattan. The plan is expected to garner between $500-800 million a year for the city. These unions are seeking an exemption to the toll for firefighters that work in the zone. However, the city doesn’t seem interested in providing such an exemption.  In response to the city’s denial, the union’s officials are sounding the alarm. According to these officials, the congestion pricing plan is going to cost the city millions in additional overtime pay for firefighters and in some instances will result in an increase in  response times for apparatus.

Since firefighters have started using the city’s mass-transit system and are leaving their personal vehicles at home, they no longer have their personal vehicle to travel from firehouse to firehouse when detailed during their shift or when working additional shifts. The union asserts that as many as 30 firefighters are detailed to different companies during the average 24-hour tour within the congestion pricing zone. The department is now responsible for moving them from station to station during the tour. Moving this personnel takes time, which in turn extends the work shift of other firefighters waiting for their relief, thus creating more overtime. The firefighters are transported from station to station by two primary means; a very small number of FDNY transport vans used across the city, or department apparatus. The problem cited with the transport vans is that there is a limited number of vans, and the vans require additional personnel to drive the firefighters from station to station. Due to the lack of available vans, some firefighters are forced to travel in fire apparatus from station to station. However, this causes the apparatus to leave its primary response area, which increases response times in the event of an emergency call.

Here is more on the story from Fox 5 New York.

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