Excerpts from the Chicago Sun-Times: A recent report by the Inspector General, Joe Ferguson, has proposed that the Chicago Fire Department could save at least $1.2 million annually by transitioning 34 non-emergency roles to civilian employees, potentially saving even more in overtime costs. This recommendation follows similar suggestions made three years ago for the police department, where Ferguson urged the city to civilianize certain positions to free up resources for more officers on the street. Now, he’s applying the same logic to the fire department, which operates with a budget of over $576 million per year. After reviewing the responsibilities of 555 uniformed firefighters and paramedics, Ferguson identified 34 roles that don’t require firefighting or medical skills. These include administrative tasks like ensuring proper staffing schedules, as well as two positions that were essentially used for mail delivery—despite not being officially documented in job titles. The fire department has agreed to implement the changes for 32 out of the 35 targeted roles, and the commissioner has also committed to reviewing all positions, tracking temporary assignments, and updating job descriptions to reflect actual duties. Ferguson pointed out that cities like New York and Philadelphia already use civilians for roles such as fire inspectors, while Chicago still relies on uniformed personnel for these tasks. He suggested that a regular review of job functions could lead to further savings, but only if the fire department union agrees to the changes. However, the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 has pushed back against the proposal. They argue that the roles in question are essential to the department's operations and are covered under their current contract. A grievance was filed over the attempt to move some of these jobs to civilians, including the mail delivery positions, which have been held by union members for decades. The union president, Tom Ryan, emphasized that any changes must go through formal negotiations. Meanwhile, the audit also revealed that the fire department may have improperly granted accommodations for disabilities without following proper procedures, raising concerns about compliance with city policies. Ferguson’s findings highlight the need for better oversight and transparency in how the fire department manages its workforce and ensures that all roles are properly justified and aligned with both operational needs and legal requirements. Thanks Dan Concrete Admixtures,Calcium Lignosulphonate,Sodium Lignosulphonate,Water Reducing Chemicals ANYANG DOUBLE CIRCLE AUXILIARY CO.,LTD , https://www.aydoublecircle.com