Calling on the Administration to obtain an independent impact study before eliminating any engine or ladder company.

WHEREAS

, The determination of the overall size of the Fire Department, including the number of engine and ladder companies, is ultimately the Administration’s decision; and

WHEREAS

, Such decisions should only be made after the Administration and Firefighters’ Union have reached a resolution on the effects of the reduction or elimination of any engine or ladder company; and

WHEREAS

, In the event the City and the Union are unable to reach agreement on the effects of the City's plan, and the Union asserts that the City's plan increases the risk to Firefighter safety, then the City should commission and complete an impact study, conducted by an independent third party mutually agreed to by the parties; and

WHEREAS

, Such study should include, but not be limited to, a detailed projection of the savings to be achieved by the proposed reductions or closures and an analysis of the impact of the proposed action on the delivery of emergency services, the safety of bargaining unit members, and compliance with relevant safety standards including NFPA 1710; and

WHEREAS

, Once the study has been completed, a copy should be provided to the Union; and

WHEREAS

, In the event the Union opposes the findings contained in the Impact Study or with the proposed reduction or elimination of companies as they relate to Firefighter safety, the City should negotiate in good faith with the Union to resolve any disputes over Firefighter safety arising from the proposed reductions or closures; and

WHEREAS

, In the event the City and the Union are unable to resolve their issues related to the effects of proposed reduction or closure, the Union may submit any unresolved issues in accordance with the grievance procedure set forth in the Safe Workplace provision of the 2005 Act 111 Arbitration Award; and

WHEREAS

, In addition to any other arguments raised by the parties, the arbitrator should consider the impact of the proposed reductions and/or closures on the City's financial ability to provide emergency services to the public, the City's compliance with relevant safety standards and the impact of the reductions and/or closures on the health and safety of firefighters; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED,

That the Philadelphia City Council calls on the Administration to commission an independent impact study before eliminating any engine or ladder company.

End