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10 COr: m 1anta Jo urnal ~:~~.:-:-. ....:=~ ... . . ..-: : -. . ... and CONSTITUTION SUNDAY, MAY 22, 1966 .-'.0 .-,..-;:,..- .- ...,.: ., ... ,~-s:" 't::,::-:c,,,.,.;;';{~:.,;;:'...~:..-,:.,·;C;;...,.... ,,., ...,,..... -::.-, .. ,·:,....,.,.;·.,.J,,.,,,.,,.,.,.,.,., , ,.,.,~,.l,,,,.,; ,.,,:.-,,,,,::t:m~ NEW UN ION Ml LIT Grurnbl1ng Firem By RALEIGH BRYANS A number - evidently a large number - of disgruntled Atlanta firemen have defected from ·their old union to join a new independent" union that is exhibiting militancy and is seeking greater wage gains for them. The new union is now pressuring city officials to recognize it as negotiating agent for firemen with · an apparent threat that fin~men will take extraordinary action on their own if officials . do not. The union is Atlanta Firefighters Union, Inc.. independent. Its attorney and business representntive, Robert L. Mitchell, voiced this apparrnt threat in a May 16 letter addressed to Alderman W. T. Knight. chairman of the .city's Boarl of Fircmastcrs. MR. l\11TCIIELL slated that "if negotiations are not com-. mrnccd immrdialely. then the members of this union will have no choice hut t.o promulgate th >ir own working rulrs, which staff Photo- Charl e, P ug h will he placed into effect imATLANTA CITY HALL GETS PICKETS AS FIREMEN SEEK INCREASE IN PAY mediately." Placards Ask for Immediate Action Concerning Pay and Working Hours In the same lefter. Mr. Mitch· ell gave Mr. Knight what was charter to ,offl~lals of AFL-CIO. The city's present position has va Les Jn the fire degartmenl . at their monthly pay the first information any respon- The _new urnon was f~rmed, been laid down by Mayor Al- •was sible citv official had received accordmg to Capt. Marlm, on !en's administrative assistant, rose from $403 in 1960 to $49"7 in regarding the nature of the wage April 19. This, judging by Mr. Earl Landers. This position, quite 196 , or 23.3 ner cent. lnme and ho 11 r demands the new union Mclver's newsletter, must h~ve candidly, is that city leaders do sa . esfx years, _firemen.'. 25is making. followe? a Local 134 meetmg not s h are firemen's evident year service pensio-11S... increas..e.d ,.. at which members expressed str'ong belief that they have been from $150 a month to $227.50 or Upon behalf of the Allanta their disenchantment and indi- badly treated at the city budget 61.6 per cent. Their 35--year serfiremen." wrote Mr. Mitchell, cated their plans to defect from table. This, interestingly, is a vice pensions r_Qs~ rom 200 a "we are willing to agree al this the local. position taken by Local 134 Pres- mont to $295.80 a month, or ti~e to a 56.:.bo_u ~ck coup~ There have been persistent, ident Mclver in his April news- 47.9 er cent. Their inc-of-duty with a $100 per month wage m- but strictly unconfirmed, ru- letter. ffisill)..iill R5!nSiOllS rose from crease for cas. iremen on a -mors that Capt. Martin's new $150 a month to $323.05 a month, one-year basis. union is oriented to the Team- MR. LANDERS (as did Mr. or U e_r cen . And widow's The d e m a rrd- for a 56-hour sters Union. Hearsay has it that Mclver) details improved wage benefits -on disability pensions work week is not ne,v. It was the Teamsters Union did send and other benefits which have rose 1rofu $112.50 a month to the major demand made at the in organizers to Jure firemen accrued to firemen in the six- $242.28- a month, or. 115 per start of ' 1965 by firemen when into a Teamsters' affiliate but year period between in 1960 cent again. they were represented by their did not succeed in that. But fire- and this year. old union'. L?cal l M, lnte~·nation- men may have had help from In these__six__y..e.ars.,_ fir.emen.. MR. . LANDERS . ppints out al AsSQ_CJalion of Firefighters, Teamsters organizers i.n fnrm- ,liave received six inc enl that wage and per,.;ion increases AFL-CJO. ing their "independertl" union. pa increases. These increment accorded firemen have boosted increases id not come in one the annual fire department apBut brand-new is the new That, again, is rumor. union's demand for a $100 per The disgruntlement of city a year. however. _In 1960, theY-,, propriations from $3,765,955 in olicemen, 1960 to $5,247,678 in 1966, or an month wage increase. And new, firemen came to a head this to ether •it cit rant ~o-· eme t aggregate of $1,581.734. This, he and extraordinarv. is the union year as they had for a number w~ representative's 'giveaway that of years firemen at budget-mak- increase, while other city em- says, is the equivalent of more his organization is contemplat- ing time had pressured the al- ployes got one. In 1962 tbeuot than one mill of taxation, based , 10-· c n increase on the 1965 tax digest. He indiir.g a one-ye::i r union.cit~· con- dermanic finance committee to a s th er city cates the city feels it is meant ct. ·Citv ;mnnls rlo nrit re- shorten the fire department alung_Jli.UL..a fl r t an~· 'precedent o such a work week. The finance com- rmployes. In 1965 and again- 1n ingful to local taxpayers that hen_ef.it from ones the six-year $1,581,734 increase e ntracl. mittee decline t is, saying he 19.ilii, increment general increases. in outlays for firemen's salarcity budget was too tight. 'l'he impact of lhe six ies and pensions was realizeCI THE PRESJDENT of the new union, Capt. J. T. Martin. corn- THROUGH LOCAL 134, fire- increment increases for pri- without a tax ir.crcase. plained Tuesday, while leading men subsequently mounted an a group of firemen who picket- aggressive campaign to pered City Hall , that !Vlayor Allen suade aldermen to change their and other city offi cia ls had giv- minds. They appeared at City en the union thr. "old run- Hall in great numbers when the around" when it had sought rec- fi nan ce commi ttee accorded og-nilion. them a special hear in~ But they-. Ci lv offi cials contend this Is were told, finally. on March 21, no the case. Holl"c>vrr, they do that the committee's position n, kc it cle:ir th:11 ci rcum- still was the same - there just

(. n r,s arr m:iki";; it difficult I wasn't money enough available.

fr;,· q,,, m tn dct·1rll· \ li1C' 11i r lo I They did get a solemn pledge l "flJi'1' tl_ 1" rini 1111ion. Thr. I from . the full Roa rd of /\Ider,.,:,, f,r r nwn s un1ri 1 1, v~·,ng lo I men and Mayor Allen th-at their I ·, i' it·· r· 1 ;i t 1n 1 ;: ; i·rwk•· ;ma n , request for c1 shnrtr r \:·nrk :vrek: �THE PR ESIDENT of the new ,-________________, union, Capt. J. T. Marlin, com- THROUGH LOC 134, fireplained Tu.esday, while leading men subsequently· mounted an a group of firemen who picket- aggi:essive campaign to pered City Hall. that Mayor Allen suade aldermen to change their and other city officials had giv- minds. They appeared at City en the union the "old run- Hall in great numbers when the around " when it had sought rec- f i n an c e committee accorded ognition. them a special hearing. But they . City officials contend this ls were told, finally , on March 21, not · the case. However, they do that the committee's position make it clear that circum- still was the same - there just stances are making it difficult wasn't money enough available. for them to decide whether ·to The;> did get a solemn pledge recognize the new union . The from the full Board of Alderold firemen 's union is vying to men and Mayor Allen thaUheir · keep its position as spokesman request for a shorter work week for firemen . will receive first priority, above "This resolves itself into a all other budget requests, when contest between two groups who the city budget for 1967 is beclaim they are representing the ing fixed this fall and winter. members of the fire departWHAT FIREM~ demanded, ment," says Mayor Allen. If the claims of its president ~..anuar:y_ anLaga m are to be accepted, the new March a- r-edw;tiorl-oLih.elr union has laid hold of a siz- ~ c . o m . .fi0-1lour:s .J.o 56 able majority of the men in the h_qgrs_and- ti-me-and-a-half- overfire department. Capt. Martin t!.m.e.-p.ay..Jor- any_w..ork they persaid Tuesday that 550 of 718 l9rmed beY- nd t.'ne 40 hoursthat "eligible men" in the depart- most other city employes wor •. ment are members of his un- This would have cost the city ion. (Officially, th!!re are 726 $1.1 million, according to City firefighters.) Comptroller Charles_L. Davis. On the other hand, the presi- The_ finance_ c_omm!tte,e's, an? dent of the old AFL-CIO fire- the city admm1stration s, pos1men's union has said in a news- tion at the time was that the letter published recently that 1966 budget was the tightest in "there will always be a Local years. This was in large part 13-1, International Association of the case, finance officials insistFirefighters," an.d that the old ed, because the budget included union is still very much in busie-ste ' a raise for all city ness. personnel - firemen included. , The iremen em n s, said RADIOMAN JIMMY McIVER city officials, could only be met disp uted reports - reports ap- by raising the city's ad valorem parently circulated by members tax rate. This latter fue city of the new competing union - administration was unwilling to ~~a.t _L_o<::~ ! _34_ h_a_s 143.215.248.55 12:52, 29 December 2017 (EST)e_d_1_·n_ ils_ c_o_n.template. __ I I I I �n ....... :f .......f~ •.'. ..'.,..~; ...:2' >% £:.,"m··· ........ , ...>:;;;.: " · ·~ ···········>...<,.·.,.,,. ·,···>c.···.' ·'··Z..... ,.·,····',, ···,· x'·"'""""'"'1~i ¥©1rg;ce Hi!<e .. !J ,/ In newspaper advertisements jor Southeastern cities · (New they have run, and in leaflets Orleans, Atlanta, Birmingham, they have distributed about Louisvllle, Memphis, Miami, ,'~ town , th e firemen members of the new union have expressed Nashville, Norfolk, Little Rock, • ' t, ,· shar bittern ess not only with Mobile, Montgomery qnd Richtheir: fi0-hour work week but mond). The average for these with existing pay scales, no cities . is $4,316. Among these matter how improved since 1960- cities, four pay a slightly higher "lf you were working 50 hours one week and 70 hours the next minimum than Atlanta, as folfor $1.:i;i per hour, you would lows: Bir min g ha m, $4,do one of two things: Demand 716 (the highest) ; Miami, $4,better work ing conditions or re- 680; Nashville, $4,680, and Norsign, " reads one leaflet. folk, $4,680. Seven of the 17 The $1.55 per hour figure is cities have a 56-hour work week cilccl as a minimum, and else- for firemen; four, including Atwherc, Sl.!Jl per hour is cited lanta, hav_e a 60-h?ur wo:·k week; .. as th e maximum. The leaflet . the remainder have either 72. incl udes a statement by the fire- or 78-hour work weeks. In 13 men's union th at 125 firemen of the 17 cities , firemen work a . ' did quit the fire department last 2fi-hours-on , 24-hours-off basis. year " becaus~ the~ c?ul?n't Atlanta compares less well ;ith make enough .moonlightmg to what major cities in its popus~pplement th eir poor s~l ary a_s lation class are doing. The cities, firemen to support their fami- besides Atlanta are Buffalo lies." Pittsburgh , Sea ttl e, Columbus'. Denver, Indianapolis, . Kansas IN THEIR RECENT actions City, Memphis, Minneapolis and - their breakaway from their Phoenix. The Atl anta minimum old union, their picketing, their wage is the lowest. Seattle's is rff~rts !o enlist ~ews _media in th~ highest, $6,420. The average 11 Pugh their fight, theu· vigoro~sly- for the 11 cities, Atlanta in\ PAY w;,iged telephone can:paigns eluded, is $5,410. A SO-or-better against ~ity Hall ..... the firemen. work week prevails only in

ipartment ~ave !1ttle _dou~t about the Minneapolis (60 ), Memphis (72 ),

·thly pay depth of th~1r ?1~gruntlement, Indianapolis (63), Denver (68). lo $497 in or about their w1llmgness. to go Buffalo, with a 40-hnur week, ·:. In the ~o ext_reme means _to obtam sat- is lowest, Seattle next, with a

nrn's 25- 1sfact1on of their demands. 48-hour week. Pittsburgh has a

ncrcased Tlieir anger may well bode 52-hour week, the rest, a 56!~27.-50, or troublesome d<1 ys ahead for of- hour week.

·:,~ar ser-. fici als at City Hall and for the 3 - Some general clarifica· ,,n $200 a general public in Atlanta. tion is needed of conditions that --onth. or Nonetheless, Mr. Landers 1e-of-duty and here he speaks with full prevail in the Atl anta fire de·1se from authority from Mayor Allen - partment. When one says fire· a month, sets out to put the firemen's men work a 60-hour week it does not mean they work se~en

widow's complaints in perspective.

pensions 1 _ Low w a g es prevail days a week. Actually, firemen five days a week, then month to throughout th e city government, work take two off.

. ll5 per so . that firemen, in this regard,

· : . are not' in a unjque position. As Those on the day shift work alreadv indicated, firemen ac- 10 hours a shift ; those on th e ·,iinls out tua lly ·fared better - six incre- ni ght shift, 14 hours. Firemen

increases ment in creases to five - than who have the day shift one

~ boosted !the bulk of city employes did week will work the longer night ··,nrnt ap- in th e 1!JG0-66 pe riod. The city is shift the foll owing week. The

1_955 in ac0 tely aw are that it must im- five-d;,iys-on, two - · d;,iys - off

r,, or an prove city salaries generally or regime means, moreover, th at

This, he it viii not be in a position to firemen get 104 days off during

·· of more coHipete with private enter- the course of a year. And on top ·_,n. b~se~ ri~ e for able e~ployes. To th!s of th at, they get 20 days of va· He md1- endl it has relamed the Publlc cation time and time off for sev:; mea n- Ad inistration Service, a Chi- en holi days . In terms of the fa ct _;:rs that cago management consultants that th ey are off duty 131 of the ':~trcase fir , lo do a study or its salary 365 days in a year, they may · ~ s sala r- sch dulcs. Th is will be com- be inaccurate in the way they

rra/ized plelad by this f;,i ll ;,ind will be have fi gured their hourly wages.

us as the basis for probable For example, th e $1.91 maxir-a l w;,ige adjus~menl.s at mum ·nour/y w;,ige cited in their rn of the next year. leaflet mi ght more accurately - - - -........- ~ - ;,......;._-----.i be ·said to be $2.17. Firemen , in - T~e wages and ho~rs pre- addition, a,re furni shed free unim the Atlanta Fire De- frrms and at their fire stations ' ' ment compare well with 0 e in other cities, wlielner in 'Georgia, in the Southeast, or the nation as a whole. The minimum annual salary of an Atlanta fireman is the highest of any .in six Georgia cities - Atlant'l. Columbus, Sav;,innah, Albany, J\:ugusta and Macon. It is $4,641. The average for the six Georgia cities, with Atlanta 's figured in, is $4,163. The 60-hour work week prevailing in Atlanta stands alone among the six cities. In all the others, a 72-hour work week prevails. . '.:tl _ i 1 I L THE ATLANTA minimum also exceeds the average for 17 ma- I if I have quarters where they may sleep when there are no fire calls, and kitchens where onduty-hour meals are cooked. 4 - It is untrue, as the new union has claimed, th at 125 firemen resigned from the department last year to accept better jobs elsewhere. Actually, 58 firemen qu it the department, and even so, eight of these were re- 1 employed subsequently. . �