Firefighters association leader calls for Bush’s ‘firing’

[Snazzy]

Firefighters association leader calls for Bush’s ‘firing’
Slams president during convention, saying he has failed to support fire crews

By Lois Gormley
The Desert Sun
May 15th, 2004

PALM SPRINGS -- The president of the International Association of Fire Fighters blasted President George W. Bush and his administration for failing to support firefighters, and called for its members to "fire" the commander- in-chief.

Harold Schaitberger , who also is the national co-chair of presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry’s presidential campaign, sharply criticized Bush’s plans to cut existing federal funds going to the fire service. He said the upcoming election was the most critical in a generation.

"The next president is going to determine whether working men and women, working families, have a chance," he said during a speech Friday morning before union leaders and delegates during the final day of the California Professional Firefighters’ annual convention at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs.

Schaitberger, a former Virginia firefighter who leads the IAFF’s efforts in Washington, D.C., and nationally, received several standing ovations during his remarks Friday.

....

http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2004/local/20040515011723.shtml

[whistle]

1. How many firefighters are there nationwide?

...well I just looked this up at "U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics" site:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos158.htm#emply


Here is what it says:

Employment

Employment figures in this Handbook statement include only paid career firefighters—they do not cover volunteer firefighters, who perform the same duties and may comprise the majority of firefighters in a residential area. According the United States Fire Administration, nearly 70 percent of fire companies are staffed by volunteer fire fighters. Paid career firefighters held about 282,000 jobs in 2002. First-line supervisors/managers of firefighting and prevention workers held about 63,000 jobs; and fire inspectors held about 14,000.

About 9 out of 10 firefighting workers were employed by municipal or county fire departments. Some large cities have thousands of career firefighters, while many small towns have only a few. Most of the remainder worked in fire departments on Federal and State installations, including airports. Private firefighting companies employ a small number of firefighters and usually operate on a subscription basis.

In response to the expanding role of firefighters, some municipalities have combined fire prevention, public fire education, safety, and emergency medical services into a single organization commonly referred to as a public safety organization. Some local and regional fire departments are being consolidated into countywide establishments in order to reduce administrative staffs and cut costs, and to establish consistent training standards and work procedures.

Boy, that's a major voting block. Any DU firefighters out there? Bush and the rethuglican budget cuts have to affect these public service people in a big way. Let's get out the democratic vote, we are with you people.

[Tellurian]

4. In the last two years the increases have gotten to be staggering..

"Paid career firefighters held about 282,000 jobs in 2002. First-line supervisors/managers of firefighting and prevention workers held about 63,000 jobs; and fire inspectors held about 14,000."

At leaset a 20% increase maybe more in some areas.

[Just Me]

2. I guess Bush ain't too popular with either the police or firefighters.

Gee, I wonder why? Could it be many are being sent to Iraq and those left behind don't have the funding to adequately do their job?

Busholinis enrich their own (corporatists) and leave EVERYONE else behind!!!!

[Tellurian]

3. Firefighters: call the Donald!

Just saw the streaming video a few days ago, the Donald's giving Bush "the cobra",

"You're FIRED!!

<sorry- didn't bookmark it~>

[cliss]

5. Isn't that cool?

First we have the policemans' union, and now this. This is really good news. Consider also that firemen have families and friends. They're going to spread the word that Bush is a pariah. Same with policement. Think of the respect firemen have in the community.

Bush made a serious mistake by alienating them.

~our numbers are growing~

[0007]

6. Kerry should run those 911 firefighter speeches by junior

as a campanign ad. That would be enough to make the nation sick again