I picked the wrong job

[Ez ryder]

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- Despite ever-tightening budgets, hefty paydays are actually becoming the norm for a lot of firefighters.

In 2015, some firefighters with the San Ramon Valley Fire District were making as much as $400,000 a year in total compensation, CBS San Francisco reports. More than half of the full-time employees at the department make more than $300,000 in total compensation a year, according to data collected by the watchdog group Transparent California. 

“Does it make sense that a battalion chief in San Ramon should earn $300,000 when our governor only earns $180,000 a year in compensation?” said Jack Weir, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.

But one department said that paying out a lot of overtime is actually saving taxpayers money.

[irv]

1 hour ago, Ez ryder said:

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- Despite ever-tightening budgets, hefty paydays are actually becoming the norm for a lot of firefighters.

In 2015, some firefighters with the San Ramon Valley Fire District were making as much as $400,000 a year in total compensation, CBS San Francisco reports. More than half of the full-time employees at the department make more than $300,000 in total compensation a year, according to data collected by the watchdog group Transparent California. 

“Does it make sense that a battalion chief in San Ramon should earn $300,000 when our governor only earns $180,000 a year in compensation?” said Jack Weir, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.

But one department said that paying out a lot of overtime is actually saving taxpayers money.

We go through the same thing up here. The public complains about the amount of public sector employees and if that many are needed? Then our company/the Gov't lays off, doesn't rehire after retirees go, so getting the same amount of work done, on smaller crews, opens the doors for  overtime.

People, who see free $$ so to speak, (handed 400 hrs of O.T. a year) work it and end up making over a $100.000 dollars, and then some, and then make the public sector employee sunshine list (anyone who makes over a 100g's+/yr) and the public goes ape shit again when they see this list.  

What we have going on now, is, because we are so short staffed (Nuclear Plant) they hire contractors, and usually twice as many of them as were were laid off, pay them big money, have no limits on O.T. (we are capped at 400hrs/yr) and most/all make over 100g's too, but because they are contractors and not public sector employees, they don't make the sunshine list,,,, therefore the public has no idea even more money is being spent to get the same amount of work done as was done before.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_list

 

Edited March 4, 2017 by irv

[Ez ryder]

I get that but when over 1/2 are pulling over 300k there is a prob.  

[ArcticCrusher]

17 minutes ago, Ez ryder said:

I get that but when over 1/2 are pulling over 300k there is a prob.  

Must be nonstop fires. 

[BOHICA]

55 minutes ago, ArcticCrusher said:

Must be nonstop fires. 

Or people are demanding firehouses to be  manned 24/7 with a staffing level to cover 5 days a week 8 hour a day staff

[Ez ryder]

my buds old man was a city fireman . he worked like 3 days on 3 days off they slept at the house ate at the house everything at the house . think when he retired at 54  was pulling 60k lol

he did retire early real early and is doing better now than when he retired by far .

 

 

[ArcticCrusher]

38 minutes ago, BOHICA said:

Or people are demanding firehouses to be  manned 24/7 with a staffing level to cover 5 days a week 8 hour a day staff

Not justified for that pay. 

[BOHICA]

24 minutes ago, ArcticCrusher said:

Not justified for that pay. 

They may need to double the size of that department to reduce the amount of OT but still provide the service that people expect...

[spin_dry]

same here in wisconsin. walker gave the police and fire union golden parachutes and exempt from right to work.