De Pere firefighters still fighting forced furloughs
By: Heather Sawaski
Updated: March 13, 2012
DE PERE, Wis. (WFRV) - Firefighters in De Pere are still upset with new mandated furlough days.
Tuesday, 25 firefighters and one police officer filed grievances to the city, saying the mandatory furloughs are unnecessary.
Since January, firefighters have been forced to take two unpaid 24 hour days each month. Some police officers are required to take two unpaid eight hour days a month. The firefighter's union said the city has enough money in its budget to operate with the departments at full staff, and that the furloughs, and other cuts to the department, are putting residents at risk.
After hearing the complaints, the city's Personnel-Finance Committee decided to take no further action on the issue.
"The motion is to deny the grievance on the basis that the city does not agree with the union's position and the city has exercised their rights according to the state statutes and the collective bargaining agreement," Mayor Mike Walsh said at the meeting.
Local 5 spoke with two firefighters after the meeting. They tell us the fight is not over. The union plans to file another grievance with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.







