My Name is David Horne and I reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I am a Paramedic Firefighter for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services base at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach.
I am writing you to ask that you assist us with ongoing issues with our personnel and resource management. As I write this letter, I am in the midst of a fourth day in a row of 24 hour shifts on duty, two days of which have been mandatory overtime. Scenarios like this are common in our department as we have minimum staffing requirements but inadequate personnel. The specific number short is approaching 60 firefighters across 11 bases in Hampton Roads.
We are represented by the International Association of Firefighters local F-25, and in conjunction with them, have attempted to solve some of the management issues from the labor side. Specifically, we have presented a change from our current work schedule, which is 24 hours on duty, 24 hours off duty for five days, to one in which we work 48 hours on duty, 72 hours off duty over five days. In the six years since we have pursued this change, nearly every other Department of Defense Fire Department has made a similar change and reported positives in employee morale and retention, with declines in sick leave use and the need for overtime.
The template for the schedule change has been presented by these other departments; this template allows for a six month “test” period, at the end of which both parties must agree to keep the schedule or it reverts back seamlessly. Thus far, 100% of DoD Fire departments that have entered the test phase have kept the new schedule at its conclusion. With all of the above information, our labor union has voted on and passed the switch to this schedule on two separate occasions, but in both cases the Fire Chief’s response to our request was “I will not discuss a schedule change.”
My brothers and I chose this profession, and we proudly conduct ourselves professionally and with vigor; our interests are not in changing how we do our jobs, rather finding more efficient ways for us to lead our lives both on and off duty. This proposed schedule change serves both causes.
