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Firefighters, blue-collar union join fight to keep their take-home vehicles
(Buffalo News, The (NY) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 19--Two more public employee unions are taking steps to derail the plan to reduce the number of vehicles that city employees are allowed to take home to 50 from 85.
The firefighters union confirmed Friday that it had filed a grievance seeking the return of at least five vehicles. The blue-collar union has a July 29 court date in its bid to force the city to return five take-home cars to public works employees.
The police union will make a similar case before an arbitrator later this month, as it fights to block Mayor Byron W. Brown's plan to yank 20 take-home vehicles.
If the city loses all three challenges, the number of take-home vehicles to be eliminated would drop to five from 35.
The mayor has stood by his decision, rejecting union claims that, based on the longtime practice of providing cars to many employees, the vehicles are benefits subject to negotiations.
Brown repeatedly has argued that the cuts will not have an adverse effect on public safety, a claim challenged by Joseph E. Foley, president of Local 282, Buffalo Professional Firefighters.
Those losing take-home vehicles include the fire captain who responds to hazardous materials emergencies, Foley said, adding that would slow the response to an after-hours event.
But First Deputy Mayor Steven M. Casey said the city has agreed to reimburse the captain for use of his personal car if the need arises.
The court challenge by Local 264, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, also rests on the past-practice argument.
"We're trying to protect the interests of the city. That may make us look bad in the public eye, but if we don't follow procedures, there will be chaos," said William C. Travis, Local 264 president.
Three of the five take-home cars cited in the latest lawsuit were assigned to streets and sanitation supervisors. Another was used by an employee who maintains emergency communications equipment for the Fire Department. Travis said the worker frequently is sent to fires after his shift ends.
The fifth take-home car was used by a traffic signal specialist who also must hit the streets after hours, Travis said.
Earlier this week, State Supreme Court Judge Timothy Drury ruled that 20 police officers can keep their taxpayer-provided vehicles until July 30, when an arbitrator is scheduled to hear the case.
bmeyer@buffnews.com
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