Osceola County and its firefighters have been at an impasse in negotiating a new contract, one that includes raises for fire staff.
At a county budget meeting Thursday, Osceola County Firefighters union President Adam Seithel made an impassioned plea for more resources for an outfit that has responded to the lifesaving needs of the county, without a new contract for the last two years.
“We are asking our elected officials for help. We must expand our operations as the county continues to grow,” he said. “The number of fire stations and staff has not expanded to support the safety of our growing community.”
Seithel said the county has 15 fire stations – the same as in 1989. While new ones have opened, some have closed, making fire and rescue staffing a zero-sum game, he said.
“That does not provide the necessity for safe, efficient and responsible fire and rescue operations,” Seithel said. “Firefighters are called on to face any adversity. No matter the incident, count on this – when you dial 9-1-1, we’ll show up.”
Seithel noted that calls in 2021 are up by 7,000 year-over-year, and reminded the Commission of incidents that included firefighters being shot at by a rifle-wielding shooter, and a team member being attacked in the head by a man with an axe.
An increase in the calls per 24-hour period are causing longer shifts that result in physical burnout, he said, also noting in the first eight months of 2021, 13 employees have resigned, and there are 75 open workman’s compensation claims for PTSD.
“When the world was turned upside down during the pandemic, most workers joined the virtual world,” Seithel said. “Emergency responders cannot work this way, and avail ourselves to the virus, enabling our families growing concern for our safety.
“I stand before you pleading and politely asking you to do direct staff to provide a budget that addresses our concerns and our sacrifices. Our department is running on fumes, and our firefighters are exhausted, and our families are scared for our safety.”
Deputy County Manager Beth Knight said the county and union have met over a dozen times since mid-2019, collectively bargaining a new deal, along the way working through some 50 issues and leaving four unresolved — but one is the the play plan. It’s meant continuing to work under a two-year-old contract.
“We need a sustainable structure, since it’s paid through taxpayer fire fee assessments,” she said. “And we’re just now seeing he impact of the pandemic on those collections. And since, statutorily, we can only offer a three-year contract, we’ll be doing this again in just a year.”
Knight said an impasse was declared earlier this year. A special state magistrate is scheduled to hear both sides in November if an agreement can’t be worked out before then.
At Thursday’s meeting, County Manager Don Fisher noted $22 million has been spent to replace stations and $10.1 million more to purchase properties for new ones. The county announced Friday a $5.44 million Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will allow for a new station near the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex on Boggy Creek Road, already in the budget, to be built starting in December. The grant will allow 21 firefighters to be hired to staff the new Station 67.
“To build a new station you have to staff it, and staffing is the expensive side to the operation, but we’re working on that.”
Fisher said the county’s fire fund budget, carved right out of the General Fund, has increased 63 percent since 2013.
“This commission and county manager want you guys to get a raise,” he said. “I’m as frustrated as the union reps that we can’t bring this to an end because of its issues.”
