Prop B - Firefighter Pay Parity (Houston, Howe: layoffs, taxi, income)

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by txdemo

HFD should be paid on par with other firefighters of similar sized cities.

Cost of living here is half of what it is in other cities of similar sizes.

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Originally Posted by Texascrude

Cost of living here is half of what it is in other cities of similar sizes.

Not exactly, compared to other cities in Texas the Houston firefighter starting salaries were well below average.

[timlot]

Originally Posted by TheMoreYouKnow

They will now that Prop B has passed.

I voted No and encourage others to do the same. 70% of firefighters don't even live in the city yet they want to burden the city with a 29% $100+ million/yr raise? If it passes its going to cost them hundreds of jobs anyway.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by TheMoreYouKnow

They will now that Prop B has passed.

The election isn't over, so the proposition hasn't passed

Originally Posted by TheMoreYouKnow

Not exactly, compared to other cities in Texas the Houston firefighter starting salaries were well below average.

Starting salaries are for the training period, then jump by 50+% once training is complete.

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Originally Posted by timlot

I voted No and encourage others to do the same. 70% of firefighters don't even live in the city yet they want to burden the city with a 29% $100+ million/yr raise? If it passes its going to cost them hundreds of jobs anyway.

Who cares where they live, they WORK for the City of Houston. If you want a fire department filled with only people who live inside the city of Houston then why don't you start recruiting new firemen? Oh wait, I know why... because most of the guys in the city of Houston run away from danger.

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Originally Posted by WRM20

The election isn't over, so the proposition hasn't passed



Starting salaries are for the training period, then jump by 50+% once training is complete.

It's going to pass, even after the training period is over and the salary rises it's still lower than average for the state of Texas.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by TheMoreYouKnow

It's going to pass, even after the training period is over and the salary rises it's still lower than average for the state of Texas.

So what if salaries are lower in Houston? That's a stupid argument without any rational basis. Houston isn't having any problems hiring firefighters, so the salaries seem to be OK. I am annoyed with the whole rent seeking aspect of Prop B. HFD unions haven't ever been willing to negotiate, sitting on their high horse and proclaiming their superiority. We could probably cut the number of fire trucks in half, and still have adequate coverage, the majority of calls for service are EMS related.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by marksmu

You have to really search for the truth on this issue. Its complicated, and BOTH sides are lying profusely.

The modern political zeitgeist, in two brief sentences.

[Mandres]

Salary should be based on market rates, exemplified by how difficult it is to fill openings. No problems hiring new firefighters? Then the salary is fine.

And if it's not, then the recourse is to work with the City administration to solve the problem. Not to go over your boss's head to the voters to try to force your way through political pressure. That's how the City got into such a pension mess in the first place. I sincerely hope that if this passes that the entire department is gutted. The financial management of an operation this size has to be in the hands of professionals, not self-interested unions...

[Lbjen]

Sometimes I wonder if any of you have stopped to think about what a firefighter actually does. It’s not just shopping and working out you know.