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News Releases
Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters, Local 134
161 Mangum Street, Atlanta Georgia 30313
Office of the President
J. David Rhodes, 678-776-5273
July 30, 2005
Atlanta's Fire Fighters Continue Struggle for Equal Pensions with Police
Despite an outpouring of public support for equal treatment for Atlanta's Fire Fighters with Police during last winter's budget battle, Mayor Shirley's Franklin's new pension reform proposal will maintain the city's policy of treating Fire Fighters as second-class.
Under the proposal, a Fire Fighter with 25 years on the job will retire this year with a pension of 65% of his salary as opposed to 75% for a police officer hired at the same time. Because he works 56 hours a week, the Fire Fighter will have worked approximately 20,800 more hours, or the equivalent of 10 years of 40 hour weeks, more than the police officer.
Although Mayor Franklin's proposal decreases the disparity in pensions between the two groups, it leaves veteran Fire Fighters with a lower quality of life than his public safety counterpart even though full pension parity would only cost $3 million. Mayor Franklin boasts of a 2004 budget surplus of $18 million.
Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters Association Vice-President Jim Daws stated, “Every day Atlanta Fire Fighters risk their lives in the service of this city. Because of the nature of their jobs they will have shorter careers and fewer years of life after retirement. It's past time Atlanta's elected representatives listened to the voters, who have said that they want their Fire Fighters treated fairly. If the mayor won't spend a fraction of the surplus to restore fairness to Fire Fighter pensions, you have to wonder what she is saving it for.”
The Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters Association intends to be an active participant in this fall's municipal elections.
For more information on Fire Fighter activities please contact:
President, David Rhodes - 678-776-5273 or
Vice President Jim Daws - 404-046-9913
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