Public safety is quite a bargain in OKC!

[MikeOKC]

I'm not the Mike you asked and I certainly have no clue, but I know this: Emergency Services must be prepared - period. It's like the fire department at the airport. There are never crashes at Will Rogers, but they still plan, train and prepare as if one will happen this afternoon. It's all about readiness before the fact instead of having to explain why they weren't ready after the fact.

[PennyQuilts]

There are never crashes at Will Rogers, but they still plan, train and prepare as if one will happen this afternoon. It's all about readiness before the fact instead of having to explain why they weren't ready after the fact.

Another meaning to the term, "drill baby, drill."

[bluedogok]

1983, Lakehurst subdivision, 11 houses totally involved. 1998, Lakridge Run, 6 houses burn.

I remember the Lakehurst fires, I have always liked the neighborhood. I think cedar shake shingles was a requirement there and the flames jumped from house to house catching the roofs on fire because those shingles were not much more than kindling.

It happens, too many stucture on fire. No manpower left. It's heartbreaking to explain to someone why you are making no effort to save their house because it is too far gone.

Kind of what those people in Boulder Canyon (Colorado) have faced in the past couple of weeks and the forest fires up there.

[rcjunkie]

Bluedogok, We certainly have to pay. My wife and kids are on her plan through the company she works for. On her plan they are on the top teir, for $7.00 less they would have been on the most basic HMO thru my insurance. Heres a nice tidbit of info. The city for no explained reason has offered to pay $1000.00 less for FD employees. Every other city employee will get an additional $1040.00. At the union meeting last night it was explained that we would be seeing a premium increase of 24.9% over last year.

And the Fire Department has no one to blame but themselves, they are the ones that decided to opt out of participating in the health insurance with the rest of the employees, so suck it up, the grass isn't always greener.

[PennyQuilts]

I like the police and the firefighters.

[Mikemarsh51]

Junkie, Can you explain why we are to be punished for taking responsibilty for our own health insurance? As a retiree from the city I'm sure your going to feel it too!

[andy157]

Two years ago the City leaders paid $250,000. ( +/- ) for a total compensation study. The study was done to show Council how the Firefighters in OKC had a much richer benefit package, and were overpaid, when compared to the Citys peer market. The results of the total comp. study were never shown to Council, or made public. Strange, I wonder why?

[andy157]

Earlier this year, City management convinced the Council that there must be wage concessions from the 3 unions for the City to survive. The Council made it clear that if one group takes a pay cut so does everyone else, including management. It appears the 3 Unions unwillingness to take long term pay cuts has spared management from taking those same cuts. Why hasn't management shown some leadership and cut their wages voluntarily?

[Doug Loudenback]

Earlier this year, City management convinced the Council that there must be wage concessions from the 3 unions for the City to survive. The Council made it clear that if one group takes a pay cut so does everyone else, including management. It appears the 3 Unions unwillingness to take long term pay cuts has spared management from taking those same cuts. Why hasn't management shown some leadership and cut their wages voluntarily?

I've not been following this so this is probably a dumb question. Andy, do you mean that the unions' management haven't cut their wages voluntarily, or do you mean that corresponding city officials haven't taken that course?

[andy157]

I've not been following this so this is probably a dumb question. Andy, do you mean that the unions' management haven't cut their wages voluntarily, or do you mean that corresponding city officials haven't taken that course?

The later.

[Rover]

So, Doug, do you have any info on relative level of current pay of either the union management or the city's? How does each rank among its peer cities (either in the area or among cities of similar size)?

[okclee]

Please tell me this doesn't happen in Okc!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39270785/ns/?Gt1=43001

An investigation is under way after a naked Washington, D.C., firefighter was apparently caught on camera preparing food for a party in a firehouse.

[Platemaker]

These are the types of stupid complaints that happen when you desegregate the sexes in certain workplaces.

[FritterGirl]

Oops! Was going to comment on MSNBC segment, but then realized it's not the thread topic. Mods may delete this.

[andy157]

Please tell me this doesn't happen in Okc!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39270785/ns/?Gt1=43001

cooking in the nude, or being filmed while cooking in the nude?

[ljbab728]

These are the types of stupid complaints that happen when you desegregate the sexes in certain workplaces.

So there should never be any female firefighters because they might have to encounter nude male firefighters cooking in the firehouse kitchen? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. I'm a male and certainly wouldn't want to see any nude males in the kitchen cooking for me either.

[Platemaker]

I guess it's only sort of what I'm saying... I just think this country blows nude out of proportion... especially in a very different sort of workplace like a firehouse... I'm mean that HOME... not like being nude at the grocery store to while fighting fires.

If you look up more information on this story the photo was taken at about 3am and it's not like he was doing anything remotely lavacious.

I just think people get bent out of shape by the stupidest stuff. Let your kids play ultra violet video games... but nudity ... NO WAY.

Honestly... the women I know love firemen...to have a brawny fireman whip them up something delicious in the buff... sounds like every woman's fantasy to me.

[rcjunkie]

Junkie, Can you explain why we are to be punished for taking responsibilty for our own health insurance? As a retiree from the city I'm sure your going to feel it too!

Your not being punished, everyone has or will have an increase in their premiums. My premiums increased last year, I now pay $365 per month for my health insurance. (still a bargain at that price)

[rcjunkie]

[QUOTE=andy157;362354]Earlier this year, City management convinced the Council that there must be wage concessions from the 3 unions for the City to survive. The Council made it clear that if one group takes a pay cut so does everyone else, including management. It appears the 3 Unions unwillingness to take long term pay cuts has spared management from taking those same cuts. Why hasn't management shown some leadership and cut their wages voluntarily?[/QUOTE]

They have. Why do you act as though Union Employees are the only ones asked to take cuts ?

[andy157]

[QUOTE=rcjunkie;363732]

Earlier this year, City management convinced the Council that there must be wage concessions from the 3 unions for the City to survive. The Council made it clear that if one group takes a pay cut so does everyone else, including management. It appears the 3 Unions unwillingness to take long term pay cuts has spared management from taking those same cuts. Why hasn't management shown some leadership and cut their wages voluntarily?[/QUOTE]

They have. Why do you act as though Union Employees are the only ones asked to take cuts ?

Once again you have proven one of two things... you have no idea what your talking about, or, your a liar. Most likely its a little of both.

[PennyQuilts]

I just think people get bent out of shape by the stupidest stuff. Let your kids play ultra violet video games... but nudity ... NO WAY.

I think part of that is because nudity is nudity and it is an easy call whether it is happening or not. In contrast, violence is such a subjective area that it is hard to get a consensus. Chopping off nuns' heads is one thing but smacking a kid with a ruler might horrify some but remind others of the silly cartoons we all had as kids.

[Mikemarsh51]

I had planned to comment on Bryan Painters reporting in yesterdays Oklahoman. He made the comment that the Fire union had received a similar contract offer. That goes back to what similar means. Up to today, the Firefighters union had only received offers that were significantly less in benefits than other city unions had been offered. Today the city offered the Firefighters a contract that is equal to what all other city employees receive. It's nice to know you are appreciated!

[rcjunkie]

I see your still the same andy, as always, instead of offering a counterpoint, you resort to name calling.

[OKCMallen]

Most of us work 25 years or more before retiring, probably in the 90-95 percentile range at least. One of the reasons being trying to get our kids through college before retiring.
It would be nice to work 40 years in the fire service, but our bodies wont hold up to the abuse, day in and day out. When I hired on the fire dept. the avg life expectancy of a OKC firefighter was 56.7 yrs, while the rest of the population avg life expectancy was in the 75 yr old range. I have known many guys retire and die 3-5 years after retiring after 25 years on the job. Heck of a deal....

Wah wah. Most of us toil in the private sector where we don't have unions and if your job is superfluous, it's axed. Pretty much the opposite of firemen.

Firemen on this board are unreal. They're the most represented porfession in the city, I'd guess, and they just whine and cry more than anyone. It takes all sorts of bureaucracy to alter fire funding to lay off folks. It takes one bad day for someone in the private sector to get fired.

[pickles]

Wah wah. Most of us toil in the private sector where we don't have unions and if your job is superfluous, it's axed. Pretty much the opposite of firemen.

Firemen on this board are unreal. They're the most represented porfession in the city, I'd guess, and they just whine and cry more than anyone. It takes all sorts of bureaucracy to alter fire funding to lay off folks. It takes one bad day for someone in the private sector to get fired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_itVyZKmrM