The Chief shall have all vacant bids posted at least three (3) times per year (January, April and August), one (1) round each time, for all vacant bid positions within the Department. All vacant bids created between September 1 and December 31 shall be posted within fourteen (14) days of January 1 of the following year. Vacant bid positions are defined as positions not currently held by bid. These notices will be posted for seven (7) days (excluding weekends and holidays) in all stations and bureaus. Special bids shall be in addition to the above. All newly created positions shall be put up for bid before being filled. Special qualifications, if any, shall be listed on the notice.
(A) Line transfers will be by classification seniority only. Line transfers are transfers involving those positions that are counted in 103 minimum manning language in 2125.58 or their equivalent.
(B) Any member receiving a bid that requires special training shall be afforded said training at no expense to the employee. A member required to attend training on a day off shall be compensated at the overtime rate. If a member refuses or fails to achieve the required training at the first reasonable opportunity, the member will lose that position and will be returned to his/her former position or, if that position has been filled, then he/she may be placed into a relief pool until such time as they may bid. If a member is determined by the Chief not to have attended training at the first reasonable opportunity, the member may seek review of the union/management committee at its next meeting for a final determination.
(C) Staff transfers will be filled by the Chief of the Department with consideration of previous education, experience, discipline and seniority. Staff transfers are transfers involving only those positions not counted in 103 minimum manning.
(D) Probationary firefighters will be transferred as a group at predetermined times during their probationary period.
(E) Once a member receives a bid, he/she shall retain that bid until such times as he/she voluntarily bids to another position. Additionally, to prevent blocking a spot, once a member receives a bid, in the next round of bids they will not be awarded a bid back to their previous position unless no other member has bid for that spot. At the mutual consent of the member and the Chief of the Department, and for the good order of the Department, said member may be placed into a relief pool until he/she has the opportunity to bid into a vacant position.
(F) When a rig is relocated (excluding specialty units), the members assigned to that rig will remain with the rig or have the option of being placed into a relief position. All existing non-paramedic bids may become station bids if the member chooses. The member must submit a communication.
(G) Once a bid from one station to another is awarded, the member will be moved within seven (7) tours of the expiration of the posted bid.
(H) When a member is awarded a bid, the member's vacation and Kelly Day will be moved with them if they are on the same shift. When the member changes shift, the Administration will attempt to move the two week vacation period to the same period of time off the member had previously chosen on the other shift.
(I) The relief pool shall be composed of all employees who have not been awarded a bid, excluding probationary firefighters in their first and second rotation. New paramedics hired after December 1, 2002, will not be used in the relief pool, with the exception of Life Squad relief, for a period of twelve (12) months after Paramedic certification.
(J) Temporary line assignment positions are positions that were put up for bid and left vacant. They shall be filled with relief pool personnel. Temporary assignments shall be offered in order of seniority among relief pool personnel on that shift. If the member does not accept the temporary assignment transfer, then they shall remain in the relief pool. If temporary assignments are not accepted by relief pool members, then reverse seniority of that relief pool on that shift shall be used to fill the temporary assignments.
(K) Relief pool positions for officers are determined by the Fire Administration. However, when an officer relief pool position becomes available, it shall be filled first by an officer who has submitted a communication requesting the relief pool with shift preference. Furthermore, officer seniority shall be used to determine order of placement.
(L) The numbers of relief pool positions are determined by the Fire Administration. When it becomes necessary to balance shifts, it shall be filled first by a member within the classification who has submitted a communication requesting the relief pool with shift preference. If no requests are on file, transfers for the purpose of equaling out the shift staffing will be done by reverse seniority, starting with personnel without bids, on the shift in which the transfer is to originate.
(M) An employee receiving twenty-four (24) hours or more suspension in a twelve (12) month period, shall forfeit his/her rights to the procedures listed above for a twelve (12) month period, commencing at the date of the Safety Director's finding.
(Ord. 594-06. Passed 8-22-06.)