WHEREAS, On November 1, 2012, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers dispatched General Memorandum #12-134. The memo initiates an annual rotation system for firefighters starting January 1, 2013 with 156 firefighters who have worked at stations for ten years or more. The rotations for the following year will consist of 293 firefighters who have worked at stations for at least eight years. Firefighters scheduled for the rotation will list their five location choices in order of preference, which the Fire Department will consider when assigning new locations; and
WHEREAS, The benefits of a rotational system include a greater diversity of assignments and knowledge of different geographic locations throughout the City; additional opportunities for cross-training that could lead to a richer skill set and career advancement; increased knowledge of the Fire Department as a whole, rather than of a single fire station; increased parity on serving at popular or less-preferred stations; and the many benefits gained by working with different crew members; and
WHEREAS, The downsides of the policy include varying levels of resistance from the very firefighters populating the scheduled rotation list; growing resentment from firefighters against their leadership for regulations that had not been previously discussed; interruption of cohesive and productive teams of firefighters; and the possibility of longer response times as firefighters adjust to new, unfamiliar locations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Labor and Civil Service is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to review the new policy put forth by the Philadelphia Fire Department that will initiate a firefighter rotation process that will facilitate the reassignment of approximately 15-20% firefighters annually.
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