Cape Girardeau fire fighters in union 1084 are worried about staffing due to low funding
CAPE GIRARDEAU Mo. (KBSI) – Local fire fighters in union 1084 say they are worried. They think it is a major concern to be losing staff so rapidly due to low funding.
“Trying to negotiate with the city for over two and a half years its beginning to allow fire fighters to have uncertainty with their employer and at the end of the day our employees can go elsewhere and make more money starting out even after having ten to fifteen years of service here at the city of Cape.”
Ethan Essner is the Vice President, he says that they have lost four fire fighters in the past month. Three of them were captains and all of them combined together were 66 years of experience.
He predicts what he fears may happen to the Department if they continue to not have proper funding to offer their staff.
“Honestly it comes back to people can go elsewhere and do not the same job or a different job and get better pay or better benefits. At the end of the day if we can’t make the strides forward to find that funding were going to continue to bleed out and lose staffing which ultimately leads to a poorer service we can provide to no fault of our own.”
Mike Ramsey is the retired Chief of Training and Safety at the Department and worked for the Department for over 28 years. He shares his frustration as a retired employee.
“I think a lot of what they’re talking about here of late has been a problem and a challenge for the last year 15 or 20 years and you know I share my frustration even though I am retired from there.”
Ramsey says it’s disappointing to see recent funding opportunities denied.
“I have to believe that they recognize the problems but not always seem to acknowledge them because I think that would validate their failure to properly fund the departments.”
They are now asking for the public to help them echo their concerns to the City Council. They are hoping the public will understand their dilemma and their desire to provide the best services to the people of Cape.
