Melanie Helms: Last year during a difficult pregnancy, I was told when I moved to a light-duty assignment I would receive the same light-duty pay adjustment that every other pregnant firefighter before me had received. Despite support from my peers, my supervisors, my union, and even our fire chief, the city of Eugene denied me that accommodation. Instead, I was forced to use my earned leave to cover lost wages, or work longer days while pregnant, squeezing six days into a traditional five days.
Presenter: Eugene Springfield firefighters ask the City Council to support a fire district. On Sept. 22, Mike McFarlane:
Mike McFarlane: Hello, my name is Mike McFarlane, a communications consultant for the fire union, but today I’m addressing you as a constituent. I’m here to speak about the urgent need for more resources in Eugene’s fire and EMS services, and why a fire district is the right path forward.
[00:00:27] Over the last 20 years, our city’s growth has far outpaced our emergency response. In the 1980s, fire crews could reach 90% of the calls within four minutes. In 2003, that average had stretched to nearly five minutes, and today we’re over seven minutes…