4TH DISTRICT REPORT | VINCE WELLS
Oakland Firefighters Mobilize to Stop Station Brownout Scheme
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when local governments were facing fiscal uncertainty, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf saw an opportunity to take aim at fire protection. On her own, Schaaf decided to close three fire stations a day on a rotating basis — a $4.5 million cut violating both the authority of the city council and their union contract.
Oakland Firefighters Local 55 wasn't going to let it pass. Mobilizing its members, the media and a strong labor coalition, Local 55 hit back hard on the unilateral brownouts, which amounted to a 15% reduction in engines in a department already running lean.
“This was a threat to the safety of the people of Oakland as well as to our members’ safety,” said Local 55 President Zac Unger. “For her to decide that they didn’t need that protection was truly galling.”
Building on its strong social media presence, Unger and Local 55 became a familiar presence in newspapers, blog posts and local TV news broadcasts — all targeting the mayor’s ill-advised and dangerous cuts. “We put the mayor on ‘front street,’” said Unger. “She was surprised how effective it was — I think she thought we’d just shut up.”
In addition to its public campaign, Local 55 also worked with its supporters on the City Council as well as with a newly-powerful labor coalition in the city. Between firefighters and the other non-safety unions, labor has a strong voice, which Unger says has been enhanced by the presence of Local 55 in the tent. “All of the other labor unions came out in support of us and for reopening the fire stations.”
The pressure campaign got results. The initial proposal calling for three stations closing for six months was dramatically scaled back: One station browned out over a shorter stretch. With the prospect of federal stimulus money to backstop local governments, Unger says the threat of fire cuts should be over for now.
“Everyone knows that we are able to speak loudly,” said Unger. “We’re not the biggest union but everyone wants us there at the table.“
4th District Members Step Up for
COVID Mutual Aid and Vaccination
Early in the new year, California experienced a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly concentrated in the Los Angeles area. At the same time, the U.S. was ramping up the largest mass vaccination campaign in the nation’s history.
The situation accelerated to the point where Cal OES activated mutual aid response to support hospital and emergency response — an extraordinary call for firefighters as medical responders. Dozens of members from the Bay Area region responded to the call.
In Bakersfield, firefighter-paramedics from Fremont Firefighters Local 1689 volunteered to be part of a contingent helping with a surge of patients at an overwhelmed hospital in the Central Valley community. They were joined in their efforts by firefighter-paramedics from Marin, Mountain View, Palo Alto and other agencies.
Firefighter-paramedics from Hayward Firefighters Local 1909 also traveled south, working at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in the Los Angeles area.
Members responding to the unusual mutual aid call helped with a variety of medical needs, but also provided much-needed relief for overtaxed nurses and doctors at the facilities. Some reported receiving applause when they were introduced to ICU staff.
As they were responding to an unprecedented medical mutual aid response, area firefighters were also stepping up and stepping out to help with the unprecedented vaccination program being undertaken.
Hayward firefighters staffed a firehouse vaccination clinic on the grounds of Hayward Fire Station 7. The clinic extended a pilot project to help make the vaccinations more available, especially in underserved communities . Firefighters conducted as many as 400 to 500 vaccinations a day, and also helped vaccinate law enforcement.
Other locals staffing vaccination centers included Gilroy Firefighters Local 2805, Richmond Firefighters Local 188, Fremont Firefighters Local 1689, and Fire Fighters Local 1186. In Contra Costa County, 4th District Vice President Vince Wells, agencies throughout the county came together to form a vaccination team, helping to coordinate.
“It’s been a good thing to be involved with and has helped to get our communities vaccinated,” said Wells. “It has put us in good standing with our residents.”
Alameda Co. firefighters staff regional vaccination center. Photo: Alameda Co. Firefighters Local 55
Three Hayward firefighter-paramedics prepare to deploy to Southern California for COVID mutual aid response. Photo: Facebook @haywardfirefighters