City layoffs for July 1 total 150, mayor says

[mhr]

City layoffs for July 1 total 150, mayor says
By BRIAN MEYER
News Staff Reporter
The Buffalo News
6/3/2004

Buffalo intends to lay off 150 workers July 1, including 67 firefighters, Mayor Anthony M. Masiello outlined in a revised budget he sent to the state financial control board Wednesday.

The plan, which would also phase out two fire trucks next month, was submitted one day after efforts collapsed to put most city employees under a single health insurance provider. The deal would have saved $7 million, but Masiello said the fire union backed out of the deal.

Control board Chairman Thomas E. Baker said he is disappointed the budget compromise unraveled, and he urged the fire union to reconsider its position. "It seemed like we had all the stakeholders on the same page," Baker said. "It's a shame that one group seems to have tipped everything over."

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http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040603/1022392.asp

[Bombero1956]

1. unfortunately

That is occurring with more and more frequency. Last year the city I work for laid off 53 firefighters and 75 cops. The 53 people we lost was on top of another 80 vacancies that existed before the layoffs. Many took jobs in other cities in the state. Then the city offered early retirement to another 35. The city rehired 20 back but we're still short about 120 people. Somehow people don't see a connection with massive tax cuts and cuts in vital services. Our city has found itself $4 million short in it's health insurance fund so now my contribution will go up to $100 a week until the gap is closed. I don't blame my brother and sister firefighters for backing out of a deal which puts the burden on the backs of the city workers without putting some burden on the insurance company.

On edit: It appears to me like the mayor is punishing the firefighters by laying off a higher percentage of firefighters.