WMAR-TV calls it an “attack ad”. I imagine Baltimore City firefighters and police will likely tell you they were the ones under attack. The reduction in benefits to the pension system, approved by the mayor and city council prompted this billboard.
We post so many stories about conflicts between police and fire, here’s one where the IAFF and FOP are working together to get their message across to the public.
Changes in the pension system – which strip more money from the paychecks of officers and firefighters – were made necessary by a deficit in the police and fire retirement fund that could have cost the cash-strapped city $65 million. That problem came as the mayor had to close a $121 million budget shortfall by raising taxes and new fees.
Union officials have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city of purposely underfunding the pension system and arguing that the changes violate contractual labor agreements.
In a statement, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had this to say about the ad placed at East Baltimore Street and President Street:
“Rank and file police and fire officers understand that cities that give full retirement to 41 year old government employees will go bankrupt before long.
This year’s reform of the Fire and Police Pension System ensures our retirees will have a dignified and secure retirement plan the City can afford. The restructuring saves more than $400 million over the next five years and rescues the pension system from fiscal collapse.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Fireground audio from Baltimore City 5th-alarm courtesy of AlertPage.net. Plus new video from fire that damaged “The Block” & threatened Baltimore City Fire Department Headquarters. – December 6, 2010
- The story behind the firefighter tea party commercial. – September 16, 2011
- Buffalo union president admits to decades long practice of firefighters buying & selling overtime. City has asked for state & federal investigation. – November 22, 2011
- Shelton, CT Mayor Mark Lauretti disputes claim FD radio system fails half the time. But that’s what the FEMA grant application says. – October 11, 2011
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
All that union money spent supporting liberal Democrat candidates and this is what they get? Same thing in MA where the police and fire unions supported Deval Patrick only to have him cut pay and pension benefits. Now those unions that supported him in 2006 are trying to get him voted out. I can’t help but wonder if they think that the Republican candidate will treat them better.
I’m all for good pensions for public safety employees. Unlike a lot of government workers, they do an important job and run real risks. The problem is that they never made the case with the public, instead they depended on the largess of politicians. Well, the largess, reliability, and honesty of politicians with the predictable results.
Politicians are only loyal to themselves, everyone else goes under the bus if it comes to that.
Something to remember at election time.
Oh, man! You have to put in 25 years now….it’s terrible how they impose upon you! Try putting in 35-40 years like every one else.
Frankie boy, must be easy sitting at that desk for 35-40 years
Frankieboy do you want a 65 year old firefighter or police officer showing up when you call 911? Doubt it.
Hey Frankieboy; who is everyone else that you are refering to?
Frankieboy boy says it all research has shown that 1 working fire puts about 16 years of stress on the firefighter body compared to the average worker. This also takes into account the exposures we encounter and the stress placed on the body. But I’m sure sitting behind a desk for 20 years is stressfully too.
firefighters an police have always thought they were immuned,from budget cuts like teachers and custodians,but now they're getting the axe,like everyone else,And republicans made it this way by protecting them,an hacking teachers an othe school officials, because they've always perceived, they' voted ''liberal