More than a hundred D.C. firefighters walked out during a speech by Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe Tuesday in an effort to send a message about the chief’s unpopular plan for changing firefighter work shifts.
During the speech, touted as a “state of the department,” Ellerbe said he plans to push ahead with his plan to change firefighter’s work schedules from a 24-72 system to a 3-3-3 system–three consecutive 12-hour shifts during the day, three consecutive 12-hour shifts at night, then rest (see a Washington Post report on the speech at http://wapo.st/wNlDaG).
Ellerbe claims the change will save the department tens of millions of dollars over the course of several years. The union wants to retain the current system.
Video courtesy of myfoxdc.com.
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