INIT915

Unfortunately, being overworked, under-appreciated, and poorly compensated is not unique to EMS, rather it is the mainstay of many careers and blue collar jobs. (We need to all be thankful we're employed at all.) If that was the criteria for being "Most Stressful", you'd have about a hundred occupations tied for #1.

Why would they? There would be no reason to throw Manslaughter or Crim Neg Homicide into the mix. They are "Lesser Included" offenses and since, in NYS, sentencing for one criminal action means concurrent incarceration, you get no extra "penalty", rather, just a headache at trial, as you now have to introduce additional elements into the mix.

It appears to be a fairly standard cookie-cutter template. I've seen the same one several times, both for FD and PD executive positions.

It's hard to believe we need a law at all for this. It should be common sense.

In that scenario, if the PO actually said that, he is, in no uncertain terms, an idiot. I guarantee the only reason he continued on, was to get a name and DOB (and any other information required by his agency) in order to close out a report. And no, PD does not need to respond to EVERY EMS call.

Those don't appear to be salary projections at all. The first graph is "Projected Job Growth", so that a projection of additional openings, in terms of workers, not salary. The second graph, concerning salaries was "AVERAGES", back in May of 2009. Averages would be what the salaries actually were, not what they might become.

MAST? What's your thinking in those regards?

No bill needed to be "shot down". This Bill could have been moved forward. The votes on extending the tax breaks is a separate and distinct issue. The kindergarten playground mentality of my way or the highway is doing a great disservice to many emergency services workers who work and live right here in the Hudson Valley.

Really? Fully 50% of your income goes to taxes? The government picked your doctor? What insurance plan are you on? The government told you where you can live? Could you post the letter from the government that dictated that to you? Even told you what car you can drive? Was that in the same notice about where you can live? The fact of the matter remains, this bill was blocked by the Republicans. They may want to be known as the "law and order, tough on crime" party, but when it comes to matters like the 9/11 bill and union/collective bargaining issues, public sector workers (and private sector) in many cases don't have much to look forward to under Republican leadership.

Several different local tow/service companies bid on, and are awarded contracts, for different highways. The contracts are awarded by NYSDOT/NYSP and then the private companies are in charge of hiring and staffing the trucks. The contracts come up for open bidding on a regular basis. The lowest bids get the contract.

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/25978644/detail.html

I think that's part of the problem. (And this isn't directed to you, it comes up in lots of threads and discussions.) Members post their 'opinions', which they perceive as 'facts', predominantly as a function of their past experience. The problem is, many of those facts are in reality just opinions. Just as some Unions have had negative experiences with reopening contracts, others have made it work to their advantage. So, in negotiating, much like life in general, there is very little "black and white", and a whole lot of "gray".

All unmarked.

I agree, and I mentioned both those points already. Many T/Sgts have the permenant rank of Sgt, and there are many exceptions where a T/Sgt could be in command.

Ranking members of IAB sections, Narcotics sections, Employee Relations office, and a few others. They rank just above a Major, and just below a Lt. Colonel/Asst. Deputy Supt.

I don't really see it as bashing, but it's interesting to note that the State has no residency requirements, unlike New York.

Yes, in the middle of all that, you have Investigators who are equal in rank and pay to a Sergeant. About 50% of Investigators have the permanent rank of Sergeant. And you have Senior Investigators, who are equal in rank and pay to First Sergeants. Additionally, every Investigator, Senior Investigator, Lt, Capt, Major, Staff Inspector, Lt Colonel, Colonel, and Superintendent have take home cars. That's in addition to selected Sgts and Troopers who are in special details, i.e. SWAT, K9, and others.

Yes Chris, Captain (Appointment, no test) are Detail and Zone Commanders. Majors (Appointment, no test) are Troop and Detail Commanders. Then Staff Inspectors are above Majors. Then you have Assistant Deputy Superintendents (aka Lt. Colonels) Then you have Deputy Superintendents (aka Colonels) Then you have a First Deputy Superintendent and finally, the Superintendent. It would actually be rare to have a Tech Sgt at a scene, and often a Sergeant would outrank him/her, but there are a significant number of possible exceptions to that rule.

This requires a rather lengthy complicated answer, but I'll try to sum it up. Sergeant: Just your traditional Sergeant as you know them commonly. Now the NYSP doesn't have "Patrol Sergeants" or "Desk Sergeants." They are really administrative positions only, and if you seem them in the field, it is most likely because they are responding to a large scale incident, or overseeing a detail. They do not patrol. Sergeants have permanent rank based on a competitive test. Technical Sergeants: These are appointments to positions which require some unique skill or expertise. Technical Sergeants either have the permanent rank of Sergeant, or in many cases have the Permanent rank of Trooper. However, a Trooper who is appointed a Technical Sergeant receives all the benefits of a permanent rank of Sergeant. Sergeant/Station Commander: Highest ranking Sergeant in each Barracks. Not always the most senior Sergeant. Zone Sergeant: Sergeants who oversee a Zone. The state is divided into Troops, then subdivided into Zones. Usually 3-4 Zone Sergeants per Zone. First Sergeant: Highest ranking Sergeant in a Troop. Only one per Troop. Chief Technical Sergeant: Usually assigned to a technical position. For instance, the highest ranking NCO of the TTMC is a Chief Technical Sergeant. Staff Sergeant: High ranking administrative Sergeant. Could be assigned to any office at Division HQ in Albany. Lieutenant: Member who has passed the competitive testing process and has the permanent rank of Lieutenant. Technical Lieutenant: This is someone who may either have the permanent rank of Lieutenant or the permanent rank of Sergeant, and has been appointed to a technical/expertise position where they had unique skills. Also, in the NYSP, once you receive the permanent rank of Sergeant, if you are an Investigator in the BCI, you can opt to remain in the BCI with the title “Investigator”, while having the permanent rank of Sergeant. This differs from most agencies where when a Detective is promoted to Sergeant, they go back into uniform. Again, as I mentioned, this is a very, very brief explanation. It’s a little more in depth, but you get the point.

LOL John: I agree. If you need rubber truck nuts, you most likely have inadequacy issues. In all seriousness, while I personally think they look stupid, putting them on your own, personal vehicle is very different from putting them on your work vehicle. Can you imagine if I came into work with my take-home with truck nuts on the back? That would, in all seriousness, probably my last day with a take-home car.

Oh yeah, rubber nuts on an OFFICIAL vehicle (after already being asked nicely once to remove them) and wildlife/domesticated animals. The connection is obvious, how did we miss it?!?!?

Well, I'm in a Union, a fairly successful one at that, and I think our Union has learned that the first rule of negotiating is never say never. To say there would never be a reason to reopen a contract is extreme. We can all agree there wouldn't be many times the Union would benefit from it, but you really need to keep all options on the table. And the underlying fact remains is that Unions are democratic organizations. Either way, the leadership of this Union should have put this to a vote of their membership. If the membership voted it down, as the leadership anticipated, so be it. But the decision must be made by the membership, not the hierarchy. This failure to put this matter to a vote tells me, from experience, the leadership was at least somewhat fearful of an outcome they did not want.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/address_mess_VtLGrLpuCbrgl2TmRVAwsM Interestingly enough, a similar incident here in Westchester a couple years back for anyone who remembers it. A structure fire in Buchanan on Albany Post Road. At the time, Croton, Montrose, Buchanan, Peekskill, and Garrison, all had similar numbers along their respective stretches of Albany Post Road, and the FD was initially dispatched to the wrong one.

I'm the last one to defend politicians, but if our "leaders", in this case a Fire Chief, had some inherent good sense, and a desire to keep his fleet looking crisp and professional, the Mayor would never have needed to become involved, no?

I wonder why it even reached the stage of "senseless battle." I really question the maturity of someone who attaches this to an official or emergency vehicle. Your own truck? Go for it. I think it looks senseless personally, but, hey it's your truck.