Author Archives: Bill Maccarone

No More Mandatory Overtime for Las Vegas Metro Police. . .For Now. . .

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Protective Association, the union that represents Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officers has won a temporary restraining order preventing the police department from mandating overtime for city police officers. The union is claiming certain provisions contained in the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the city and police officers do not allow for mandatory overtime. The ...

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Louisville Police Under Fire for Overtime Practices

In an effort to curb increases in violent crime, the Metro Louisville City Council approved an additional $1.2 million in overtime for city police officers in December of 2016. The money was to be used to increase patrols in certain high crime neighborhoods for an entire year. Now the police department is facing scrutiny on how the money was spent. ...

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Disciplinary Suspensions and the FLSA

Today’s FLSA Question: I am a deputy fire chief in charge of administration and personnel. Our firefighters work a 24/48 schedule with a 21-day work period and an assigned Kelly day every third week. We recently suspended (without pay) a firefighter for two 24-hours shifts following a serious disciplinary matter. Instead of serving the suspension as planned, the firefighter has ...

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Georgia Firefighters Upset Over Mandatory Overtime

A group of current and former firefighters in Gwinnett County, Georgia, have begun a grassroots campaign attempting to raise community awareness about mandatory overtime. The group, which is led by a retired firefighter claims excessive overtime in the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services Department is costing the county millions of dollars while jeopardizing the safety of both firefighters and ...

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Conferences, Classes, and the FLSA

Today’s FLSA Question I am a fire chief of a small combination department. Two of my officers want to attend the FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference) this year in Indianapolis. It is a great conference—I wish I could join them. I am more than happy to sponsor them, pay any fees associated with attendance, and give them time off to ...

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Pay parity effort between New York City EMTs and FDNY results in new lawsuit

This past week two unions that represent New York City EMS workers and fire inspectors filed a lawsuit against the city. The suit accuses the city of refusing to release documents related to the race, gender, rank, and disciplinary history of both FDNY and other city workers. The union is seeking this information in an effort to illustrate EMS workers ...

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Repayment of Training Costs and the FLSA

Today’s FLSA question. . . Same question. . . Two sides. . . I am a rookie firefighter. I just completed recruit school last week. I was paid minimum wage for 14-weeks while in the academy. I am set to begin on my first shift tomorrow. I don’t think this was a good choice for me and I just found ...

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New Labor Contract Provision Increases Overtime for Hawaii Fire Department

The Department of Fire and Public Safety in Maui County, Hawaii, has seen a dramatic increase in overtime following a recent change to the collective bargaining agreement between the county and firefighters. The county’s internal auditor has a plan to potentially reduce overtime, but the fire chief does not seem to concur with the auditor’s recommendation. Maui County Fire Department’s ...

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MI Firefighters Sue for Pay Raise Due in 2016

On October 26th, firefighters in Allen Park Michigan filed a lawsuit against the City of Allen Park alleging the city has not honored the labor contract between the City of Allen Park and the Allen Park Professional Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 1410). The 2013-2016 collective bargaining agreement between the city and firefighters contained a 2.5% wage increase due in 2016. ...

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$3.5 Million Reasons why Fee-Laden Debit Cards are NOT the Best Idea for Payroll

Warning!! Not Firefighter Related . . . But interesting story from Pennsylvania today . . . Ever think about paying your workers with “fee-laden debit cards?” Just as an FYI, it is probably not the best idea. A Pennsylvania judge recently approved a class action settlement between almost 2,400 former and current McDonald’s employees that were paid with “fee-laden debit ...

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