Friday, March 29, 2013
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has continued the stay that extends the town's deadline to return firefighters to their former shift schedule.
The deadline for the Town of North Kingstown to return its firefighters from mandated 24-hour shifts to their prior schedules has been extended once again. The Rhode Island Supreme Court has continued the stay, which was supposed to expire on March 21, until May 15. At that time, oral arguments will be heard. During that time, the court is urging both sides to continue negotiating. Town officials sought a stay from the Supreme Court after Superior Court Judge Brian Stern sided against the town in its implementation of a new ordinance that ordered firefighters to work 24-hour shifts for the town's firefighters, increased the work week from 42 to 56 hours, eliminated one platoon and decreased firefighters' hourly wages. According to Stern…
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Town officials have until March 21 to negotiate before they may be forced to nix 24-hour shifts for firefighters.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has granted a delay that would have ended 24-hour shifts for North Kingstown's firefighters. The stay expires March 21 and stipulates that town officials and the North Kingstown firefighters' union, Local 1651, must continue to negotiate to reach a contract agreement. The Supreme Court decision also mandates that both sides must report the status of negotiations within 15 days. Town officials sought a stay from the Supreme Court after Superior Court Judge Brian Stern sided against the town in its implementation of a new ordinance that ordered firefighters to work 24-hour shifts for the town's firefighters, increased the work week from 42 to 56 hours, eliminated one platoon and decreased firefighters' …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Town officials have been given a stay regarding a ruling that orders them to return firefighters to their former work schedules.
A Supreme Court judge has granted a temporary stay to North Kingstown town officials regarding a ruling that requires them to return firefighters to their former work schedules, according to Town Manager Michael Embury. Supreme Court Judge Gilbert Indeglia has issued a stay of implementation, but only for a few days until the entire Rhode Island Supreme Court can meet and vote on the matter. In the interim, Judge Indeglia has urged town officials and the fire union (Local 1651) to work to resolve the issue. According to Town Manager Michael Embury, the town is seeking to appeal a Superior Court judge's decision on the matter. If both sides don't reach an agreement by end of day Wednesday, the entire Supreme Court will consider the issue …
A decision that would return NK's firefighters to their former work schedules is being challenged by town officials.
Town officials plan to appeal a decision made by a Superior Court judge that would return North Kingstown firefighters to their former work schedules. According to Town Manager Michael Embury, the town plans to seek of stay for implementation of the order in Supreme Court and then file an appeal. On Wednesday, the town's request for a stay was denied by Superior Court Judge Brian Stern. Earlier this week, Judge Stern ordered the town to overturn an ordinance that mandated 24-hour shifts for firefighters, giving the town until the end of the weekend to implement the order. According to North Kingstown Fire Union President Ray Furtado, both sides are expected to appear in Rhode Island Supreme Court Thursday afternoon for a conference. …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Former Town Councilor Chuck Brennan urges residents to email the current council.
To the editor, What is going on between the Town of North Kingstown and the North Kingstown Fire Department? Relations have been bad for the last year when the Town Council forced the firefighters to work 24 hour shifts but things could have changed for the better this week. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The first thing that happened was that the Town Council took up the issue of the new fireboat again. Last year the previous council, of which I was a member, took up the issue during several meetings. The fire department obtained a homeland security grant of $830,000 to purchase a new boat. Our council voted to approve the purchase after several meetings and discussion and the boat was ordered. One person emailed the council after …
A tentative contract that would have returned firefighters to their original work schedules.
A contract that would have brought North Kingstown firefighters back to their original work schedules has been shot down unanimously by the North Kingstown Town Council. The council and Local 1651, the North Kingstown firefighters' union, returned to the bargaining table following the ruling of Superior Court Judge Brian Stern, who ordered the town to "unring the bell" and nix the 24-hour shift schedule for the firefighters, back in December. In January 2011, the council approved a new ordinance that moved the fire department from 10- and 14-hour shifts to 24-hour shifts, reduced the number of platoons from four to three and increased the work week from 42 to 56 hours while reducing their hourly pay. According to Stern, the town …
Monday, December 31, 2012
A look back at the biggest news stories from 2012 in North Kingstown.
From union battles to elections to a 413-foot turbine to hurricanes, 2012 kept us busy. With 2013 on the horizon, we've decided to take a look back at the biggest stories from the past year. In a controversial 3-2 vote, the North Kingstown Town Council passed a new ordinance that mandated 24-hour shifts for the town's firefighters and made other significant changes to their schedules and pay. The ordinance moved firefighters from 10- and 14-hour shifts to 24 shifts and upped their weekly work schedule from 42 to 56 hours per week. According to Town Manager Michael Embury, the change could save the district $1.2 million in the first year. Since its passage, Local 1651 (the NK firefighters' union) has battled the change in letters, public …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The town council is expected to meet later this week following a ruling from Superior Court.
Town officials and the North Kingstown fire union are expected to return to the bargaining table after a Superior Court judge ruled against an ordinance that implemented at mandatory 24-hour shift for firefighters. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Brian Stern release his 28-page ruling on the ordinance passed in January – which increased the firefighters’ work week from 42 to 56 hours, mandated 24-hour shifts and reduced their hourly pay. Stern ordered the town to “unring the bell” and return to pre-ordinance work schedules and pay. According to Stern, the town violated the town charter and state laws by making these unilateral changes without first negotiating or winning via arbitration. In fact, in 2011 the town's proposal for 24-hour …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The North Kingstown firefighters' union scores a big win in court against the Town of North Kingstown.
Superior Court Judge Brian Stern has ruled that the Town of North Kingstown did not have the right to implement a 24-hour work shift for its firefighters without first negotiating or winning in arbitration. Now, Judge Stern is ordering town officials to "unring the bell" on the change in wages, hours and other work conditions that were passed earlier this year. In January, the North Kingstown Town Council passed (with a 3-2 vote) a new ordinance that imposed a 24-hour shift and 56-hour work week for North Kingstown's firefighter union, Local 1651. The new ordinance moved firefighters from 12-hour shifts and upped their work week by 14 hours. Additionally, the ordinance decreased their pay per hour. In his 28-page ruling, Judge Stern stated…
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Investigative report Jim Hummel reports on the recently instituted 24-hour for the North Kingstown Fire Department.
The controversial 24-hour work shifts for North Kingstown firefighters just got the Hummel Report treatment. Investigative reporter Jim Hummel, formerly of ABC6-TV, has produced an in-depth piece on the North Kingstown Fire Department's new work schedule which was passed by the North Kingstown Town Council in January by a 3-2 vote. The decision moved firefighters from 10- and 14-hour shifts to a 24-hour shift, reduced the number of platoons from four to three and added 14 hours to firefighters' weekly schedules. According to North Kingstown's fire union (Local 1651) president Ray Furtado, the department is too understaffed – resulting in firefighters working in excess of 24 hours. Town Manager Michael Embury, who also appears in Hummel'…
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I'm Tired of the Games
1:37 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Anybody know if the 2 parties have even gotten together since the March 29th continuance? I guess both sides are waiting for oral arguments before the courtn on May 15th. That retro bill keeps growing like weeds! more ›