If you can't take the heat...

I saw the following: “A group of Charleston firefighters says morale is suffering because they don’t get paid enough. The department pays entry-level firefighters well, but their compensation doesn’t keep up the longer they stay or the more they move up, leaving some captains earning little more than the firefighters they supervise, said Roger L. Yow Sr., president of the Charleston Firefighters Association. The organization represents nearly half of Charleston’s firefighters. Fire Chief Rusty Thomas said the city’s nearly 240 firefighters are the best-equipped in the state. He said they get annual raises and that the city just spent about $500,000 to upgrade the pension plan for firefighters.”
The State newspaper, and I couldn’t help but think, join the crowd. Sorry guys, but when it comes to a pity party you are wearing the wrong hat, we all want to make more money.

I’ll level with you fellas, I dig your work; I appreciate all that you do. I am telling you, going to the fire-station was my favorite field trip as a kid, with the big red fire trucks and the whole slide down the pole, run the siren and swing the axe into a mobile home door--I made the last part up--but everyone knows that you don’t go into firefighting for the money. You join the local fire department for the firefighter lifestyle and image: tough, hero, Dalmatian dog, shiny trucks, lots of down time to look cool in your uniform and pick up chicks, etc. Starting salary for a firefighter in Charleston is $36k a year, Captains make close to six-figures-that’s a pretty good chunk of change for Chucktown pay. Unfortunately, your union leaders (lamenting in a right to work state) in the Charleston Firefighters Association are forgetting state law prohibits municipalities from negotiating pay with “union” or collective groups and they are making you all look like a bunch of sour-grapes, which will have ramifications when you pass your boots around in the middle of traffic to raise additional funds. (Charleston Firefighters passing the boot will bring in an average of $7-$10k on the Ashley River Crossing alone in one weekend.) Basically, what I am saying is “put out those flames of discontent, quit your beachin’, and connect the dots-most people don’t have it so good”. I am hungry. What do you say Dottie? I think it might be time for one of those Firehouse steak or meatball subs tonight!
(Photo compliments of Storyplace.org)