Bellevue firefighters' questioned contract puts hires on hold

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130331/NEWS/703319874/1685#bellevue-firefighters-questioned-contract-puts-hires-on-hold

Published Sunday, March 31, 2013 at 12:30 am

By Roseann Moring
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Questions about the legality of Bellevue's fire contract have interrupted plans to hire much-needed full-time firefighters.

The city and union for Bellevue's part-time firefighters say the contract is legal and they want to abide by it. But an independent commission that oversees testing for firefighter applicants says the contract is illegal and refuses to operate under its provisions.

No matter what the city does, it could end up in court.

The union has threatened to sue if Bellevue doesn't enforce the contract, and the county attorney said he would take action if the city breaks the law.

FULL story at link.

[OrwellwasRight]

1. Link to Globalization!

Be sure to read how the management explains that one of the reasons they "have" to use these toxic glues without proper safety precautions is that they have to compete with factories overseas that are doing it -- thus the implication that if they upped their safety standards, the factories would ship the furniture overseas for gluing.

True or not, this excuse is used everyday across the country to justify all kinds of worker abuse. NO WORKER, here or in any country, should have to risk permanent neurological damage just to feed him or her self and his or her family. We have a global labor market and global safety standards should apply. If no one else will act, consumers must demand better.

Globalization is linked to almost everything.