City Thumbs Nose at NOFD–AGAIN
On Monday the City of New Orleans issued a press release announcing “pay raises for City employees in nearly every position classification to increase their compensation rate to the Southern regional average.”
Mayor Nagin gets a big pat on the back:
This is the first time the City of New Orleans has undertaken this type of comprehensive review, which is a part of Mayor Nagin’s performance budgeting criteria implemented last fall. The review resulted in a new compensation structure designed to ensure competitive, equitable pay throughout City government.
And Mayor Nagin is quoted, stating proudly:
“Implementing a performance-based budget was a key priority to continue transparency and accountability,” said Mayor Nagin. “It is also critical because we have an opportunity to review and improve practices in city government, such as this review of classified and unclassified positions, to ensure equity and fairness.”
Now, I’m not opposed to city employees earning the southern regional average and I’m all for equity and fairness. My bitch is the word “nearly” in that first paragraph….and the last paragraph explains why:
(bold font is mine)
Members of the New Orleans Police Department are not included in the new pay structure because they have already received pay increases to raise their compensation to the Southern regional average and to make them the highest paid department in Louisiana. The New Orleans Fire Department is not included due to the ongoing lawsuit.
WHAAAAAT???
Here it is again in City Business: “The New Orleans Fire Department also would not receive raises because the department and the city are involved in a lawsuit, the city said.”
There *is no* ongoing lawsuit – NOFD won the dispute. Judge Reese handed down his judgment on March 2, 2007!
So what *exactly* does that statement mean?
That no one told “da city” they lost the lawsuit?
That “da city” doesn’t have to follow the judge’s orders?
Is that “equity and fairness???
In fact, firefighters have received their long-awaited back-pay up to November 2007. And they will get the rest of it, minus lawyer fees, of course. They won.
They won.
What about that doesn’t da city understand?
The City Council still has to approve the pay raises. I don’t know when it will be on the agenda so please take a minute now to email or call your council person and both councils-at-large to demand that NOFD must be included in the city-wide pay raise. The lawsuit is settled, the judgment handed down over a year ago. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR EXCLUDING NOFD! (Scroll down for reasons why.)
Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson
(President)
Phone: (504) 658-1070
Fax: (504) 658-1077
jbclarkson@cityofno.com
Arnie Fielkow
(Vice President)
Phone: (504) 658-1060
Fax: (504) 658-1068
AFielkow@cityofno.com
District A
Shelley Midura
Phone: (504) 658-1010
Fax: (504) 658-1016
SMidura@cityofno.com
District B
Stacey Head
Phone: (504) 658 -1020
Fax: (504) 658-1025
SHead@cityofno.com
District C
James Carter
Phone: (504) 658-1030
Fax: (504) 658-1037
JCarter@cityofno.com
District D
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
Phone: (504) 658-1040
Fax: (504) 658-1048
CHMorrell@cityofno.com
District E
Cynthia Willard-Lewis
Phone: (504) 658-1050
Fax: (504) 658-1058
CWLewis@cityofno.com
And if anyone needs a gentle nudge as to what the NOFD does for us, go here
Remember the NOFD’s loyalty and courage during and after Katrina.
Firefighters first reported the breach in the levee.
Remember that they’ve taken care of themselves in the recovery with help from donations. No thanks to the city.
SUPPORT YOUR NOFD!
This is outrageous. Great post!
oyster
June 18, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Great post, Charlotte! Our FD saved all our behinds during the great wildfires we have periodically. They risked life and limb for us. People don’t acknowledge that firefighters don’t have the power, prestige, and authority that cops do, yet they are some of the most courageous and helpful public servants.
Although ours did, the last time I asked for kitteh rescue assistance, refuse because their budget no longer allowed. When I pled and complained, the guy on the phone said, calmly and firmly, “Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?” Silence. “When they get hungry enough they’ll figure out how to get down. You have a good day, now.” Of course, the damn cat did show up at my door promptly at dinnertime, so what could I say?
thepoliticalcat
June 18, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Unless I missed something two years ago, the 2006 pay raise didn’t become a priority until the firefighters won a round in court. Before then, I only heard it mentioned as something the mayor would lile to do “when the city could afford it.” The firefighters won a round in court and suddenly a pay increase package that excluded firefighters was proposed.
The “southern regional average” thing is probably b.s. It’s definite b.s. as far the public library is concerned, I don’t know if other departments are like armies where nobody has the rank of private or not. Don’t tell me how pay compares by position, tell me how much the average employee in city government gets paid compared to the average employee in other city governments.
bayoustjohndavid
June 26, 2008 at 10:04 pm
[...] read it and contact your councilperson to show support for our NOFD. Email and phone numbers are here. Honorable Council [...]
NOFD Friday: A Firefighter’s Letter to the City « casa de Charlotte della luna
July 11, 2008 at 4:21 pm