HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-10-XX Rebuttal to Policy Statement by Englewood Firefighters•
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TO: The Citizens of Englewood
FROM: The Englewood Fire Fighters
RE: Conflicting Englewood Charter Amendments
Recently the Englewood City Council issued a policy statement with many accusations
and innuendos about the Englewood Fire Fighter's Amendment #4. The Fire Fighters
feel that the allegations ma.de by the City Council are false and misleading.
The City Council maintains that the Fire Fighter's Amendment #4 conflicts with
their amendment. This should be stated in reverse because 2,590 Englewood Citizens
petitioned the City Council to place Amendment #4 on the September ballot. In
order to have this conflict, the City Council invoked their Emergency Act, adopted
a hastely drawn up amendment, put Amendment #4 off until the General Election, and
now use public funds to advertise against the Fire Fighter's Amendment #4. And
still have the audacity to say Amendment #4 conflicts with their amendment.
On the first page of the City Council's letter it is stated that we have taken this
action without public accountability. This is completely erroneous. Our
amendment is the only amendment which has been served by petition to you, the people.
As you have read in the statements compiled by the City Council, they feel we are
stepping out of our boundaries by requesting Collective Bargaining and Binding
Arbitration with an outside panel. The amendment sponsored by the City of
Englewood Administration and City Council was compiled long after we had asked for
Collective Bargaining and Binding Arbitration. This is, at the very best, a
cover up to blind you of the true issues and facts as to what our Amendment #4 is.
The City amendment would leave it entirely open for each and every employee o the
City to cause a special election for each person's arbitration. You, the tax pa.y~r ,
would be forced to subsidize the cost for what could result in many small elections
for many small groups.
On most pertinent questions to the City's amendment we find promises of a.f'ter -the-
fact legislation to correct inadequacies in their amendment. This amounts to
nothing more than a cover up of the vast gaps and loop holes left in the rush to
oppose the Fire Fighter's amendment.
Amendment #4, sponsored by the Englewood Fire Fighters, Local #1736, International
Association of Fire Fighters, would result in one decision on the ballot. You
have undoubtedly seen the recent fair and orderly decision ma.de in the City of
Denver by the same arbitration board that we speak of.
City Council has pointed out that we would make demands relative to the number of
fire trucks and the number of men on the department and other similar issues.
This statement is entirely true and without any contension on our part. Our first
and foremost reason for existing is to provide emergency rescue and fire
suppression to the taxpayers of Englewood. If outside intervention is needed to
provide this service in the most responsive and expedient way, then it is time that
this comes to light. So far, you have been kept in the dark by a City Council that
wishes to cloud the true issues by instilling fear and doubt in you, the taxpayer's
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Many of you have read in the recent issues of the Englewood Herald, of our dealings
with Career Service which to date have been totally unsatisfactory. We bring to
your mind the latest incident in which three of our men were demoted. Career
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Service prolonged this process until they had diminished our treasury. Our
attorneys advised us that we could possibly receive an unbiased decision in
court as there was no legal or responsible reason the the Career Service
decision to continue the demotion of these men. By reducing our treasury,
they made it impos~ible for us to carry this case any further. However, Council
firmly believes that we should go back to this same Career Service Board for more
supposedly unbiased judgements.
Collective Bargaining and Binding Arbitration have long been the only acceptable
means of controlling nonresponsive management.
The City also points out that it is possible for the citizens to maintain control
of their government. We urge you to do exactly that. Take control of your local
government and let nonbiased parties make intelligent decisions that will further
the progress of the taxpayers' mill levY proportionately to fire insurance rates;
city management's responsibility to provide properly manned and equipped fire
protection; and to extend the Fire Fighters' democratic rights for a fair and
just employee situation.
We believe that Fire Fighters do not belong in politics or picket lines. We
therefore, urge you to vote ''FOR" Amendment #4 and "AGAINST" Amendment #5.
We need your vote on November 7th.
Thank you,
Your Englewood Fire Fighters