Hours of Work & Tours of Duty
Actual language negotiated by Local 1547, Luke AFB
2. The basic tour of duty for fire prevention firefighters [fire inspectors] is [10] shifts that equal [118] hours per pay period. Eight [8] shifts are from 0700 to 1545 and [2] shifts are from 0700 to 0700 the next day. All shifts include a [45]-minute on the clock lunch period.
a. A flexible work schedule is authorized for the fire inspectors. The following guidelines for fire inspector flexible work schedules:
i. Employees must account for [118] hours worked per pay period.
ii. Flexible Band, the period during which employees may flex: a.m. flexible band is 0600-0900 and p.m. flexible band is 1500-1800.
iii. Core Hours, the period of time when employees are required to be in a duty status unless leave/absence has been approved, will be 0900-1500, including a [45]-minute on the clock lunch period.
iv. Employees utilizing flextime must sign-in their arrival time and sign-out their departure time in a logbook maintained in the technical services office.
3. The basic tour of duty for operations firefighters is [6] alternate [24]-hour shifts equaling [144] hours per pay period to include one shift per pay period designated as Kelly-Day [Off Day]. Shift hours are from 0700 to 0700. The onsite lunch is established between 1100 and 1300 hours.
a. For operations firefighters, each shift shall include work-time and standby time. Generally, work-time is established as that time between 0700 and 1500 hours. Standby time is that time between 1500 and 0700 hours. When the workload, flying mission or weather requires a change in the work-time hours, the Assistant Chief of operations on duty may alter the work schedule [Work-time shall not exceed [8] hours for any one shift accept to support unforeseen emergency events, i.e., [flying mission]]. The normal [8]-hour workday [0700-1500] will not be extended because of emergency response[s]. Work performed during and immediately after Emergencies [clean-up and re-servicing], is not reimbursable as standby time when performed after 1500 hours. Work-time may not be extended past 1500 hours because of emergency responses, accept to clean up any work which was started.
b. As a general rule, Saturday’s are utilized solely for training and completion of work projects that were not completed during the week [Monday through Friday]. Section 2-a of this Article applies.
c. Unless otherwise negotiated with the Union, Sundays, Holidays Civil Engineering Squadron down days and 56 Fighter Wing down days are designated as standby time for all bargaining unit firefighters.
d. Staffing of fire stations will be on a volunteer basis. When a bargaining unit firefighter is compelled to work at a specific fire station and the requirement creates disparity between employees, all things being equal, seniority as established in Article 8, will be the determining factor.
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Actual language negotiated by Local 1834, Fort Wainwright
Purpose: This Procedure is intended to provide uniform guidelines for all personnel to follow to ensure consistency between department members and military work schedules, and it will establish the standard practices for the department’s daily routine.
Discussion: This procedure only identifies the standard work schedule knowing at any moment emergency response will take precedence over all of the following. It is management’s intent to ensure that all members of the department understand that a daily routine must be established and followed to ensure consistency within the department.
Policy/Guidelines:
1. All Fire Departments personnel will follow the following daily routine schedule.
· Morning wakeup will be at 0630 personnel will be dressed by 0700.
· Each morning, at 0730 all personnel will ensure all apparatus is cleaned (stations with more then one piece of apparatus will ensure all vehicles are cleaned), the kitchen area is cleaned and dishes put away for on coming personnel.
· At 0800 hours all personnel to roll call.
· At the completion of roll call all daily work details will begin with vehicle/equipment checkouts and station cleanup continuing until 0900.
· From 0900 to 0915 all personnel will be provided a rest period unless on an urgent assignment from the station chief.
· Assigned inspection, training and other work will begin at 0915.
· All company officers will ensure that all members receive at a minimum one hour of training per shift.
· Lunch is from 1130 to 1300 hours, to accommodate individual crews and allow them the opportunity to utilize dinning facilities on the base.
· At 1300 crews will return to assigned tasks or details.
· From 1515 to 1530 all personnel will be provided a rest period unless on an urgent assignment from the station chief.
· At 1530 all members will perform one hour of physical fitness in accordance with a program establish by the wellness director.
· The Kitchen will be clean at all times.
· At 2200 hours the station captain at all three stations will ensure the station is secure for the evening.
2. The Assistant Chief's / Floor Captains of both shifts will make a walk through of all spaces, trucks and equipment. They will note any discrepancies and have the off going shift correct them before turning over the station or accept full responsibility of any possible discrepancies.
3. The Chief Officer on duty has the authority to request alterations to the routine schedule from the Fire Chief due to unexpected circumstances or events.
*This Administrative procedure supersedes all orders and directives of a previous date.
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Actual language negotiated by Local 1770, Fort Bragg
HOURS OF PAID DUTY: The current work schedule for a firefighter, throughout the year, is twenty-four (24) hours on duty shift and 24 hours off duty for a maximum of 144 hours per pay period. As a general guideline, the twenty-four (24) operational shift of a firefighter workday will be divided into eight (8) hours of work time, eight (8) hours of standby time, and eight (8) hours of sleep time. Emergency responses and Fire Alarm Communication Center (FACC) operator relief may interrupt the standby and sleep time. However, as a general guideline, these times should be uninterrupted, providing scheduled training and mission requirements are met.
WORK SCHEDULE When a change is necessary to adjust Kelly Days: a change of A shift to B shift, or vice versa: or transfer bargaining unit employee(s) during the year, the Employer will ask for volunteers, when time allows, and will satisfy these requirements from among any qualified volunteers. The Employer agrees to notify the Union and employee(s) of the above referenced changes as far in advance as possible. Nevertheless, the Employer may make exceptions to these requirements when justifiable circumstances preclude compliance. However, such exceptions will not be made for the purpose of avoiding or, creating the necessity or payment of overtime.
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IV. Language Proposed by Local 1770, Fort Bragg
HOURS OF WORK
The Employer in accordance with the Department of the Army and other applicable regulations will promulgate the tour of duty. The present work schedule (tour of duty) for all bargaining unit Firefighters is a 2-shift system (24 on/24 off) that is six twenty-four hour tours of duty in a pay period. The work schedule for Fire Inspectors is ten eight-hour tours of duty in a pay period.
The normal work schedule for 24-hour employees shall be from 0700 to 0700, twenty-four consecutive hours of duty and shall consist of eight hours of work, and 16 hours stand by. For the purpose of this agreement actual work and stand-by status is defined as follows:
A. Work Time. A Firefighter is performing actual work when required to stand roll call, inspecting and maintaining fire apparatus and fire suppression devices located throughout the activity, inspecting buildings and areas, giving and receiving job related training, being present at meetings and formal gatherings, being present at "hot work" and other types of operations where the danger of fire or other related emergencies is present, preparing and maintaining reports and memos, suppressing fires and conducting operations connected therewith, housekeeping, physical fitness, preparing for and performing inspections, monitoring the work of others, and performing other job related duties assigned by the Employer
B. Stand-by Time. For the purpose of this agreement, an employee is in "Stand-by” status only at times when he/she is not required to perform actual work as described in section “1A” and is free to eat, sleep, read, listen to radio, or engage in other similar pursuits. The Employer agrees to guard against scheduling "actual and/or make-work" during the employees stand-by/sleep period. If the Employer has the need to schedule "Actual Work" as described in section “1A” at times other than the "core work hours” the Employer will ensure that equal amounts of stand-by time will be permitted during designated hours of work
C. Early Relief. The Employer agrees to honor and support the common practice of trading of time and early relief between unit employees (with the same level of experience). To this end, the parties agree to negotiate and implement a fire department SOP that establishes the policies and procedures for utilizing the trading of time and early relief programs.
D. Employer Changes to Established Work Schedules.
1. The Employer retains the right to change Kelly Days, groups, workdays and/or transfer (reassign) bargaining unit employees to meet mission requirements. When it is necessary to adjust Kelly Days and/or transfer bargaining unit employees, the Employer shall make every effort to satisfy these requirements through qualified volunteers, as determined by the Employer. Since bargaining unit employees may be assigned to any of the operating stations, consequently they must be trained on, and retain proficiency in, the full standard/nonstandard techniques/processes/procedures of each station.
2. The Employer agrees to notify bargaining unit employees of change in workdays, Kelly Days, groups, shift and/or transfers as far in advance as practical, normally within fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the change.
3. Yearly station rotations will be completed NLT the last day in the pay period ending in January. Rotations will be kept to a minimum and crew integrity will be a concern. As per standard practice in the Fire Service crews are kept together on average 3-5 years.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER
F. REQUEST FOR TRANSFER. The Employer agrees to accept written requests from bargaining unit employees for lateral transfers between shifts within the Installation Fire Department. In such a case, the following procedures shall apply:
1. A bargaining unit employee desiring to transfer shifts may submit a written request addressed to the Fire Chief via the appropriate chain of command.
2. Two bargaining unit employees of equal grades who are serving in the same position description may request an exchange of duty shifts. Such requests shall be signed by both employees and submitted via the appropriate chain of command to the Fire Chief. The request will be promptly forwarded via the chain of command to the Fire Chief with a recommendation for approval or disapproval.
3. The Employer agrees to give good faith consideration to request for transfer submitted under this Article.
4. Normally, all bargaining unit employees will be given fourteen (14) calendar days notice before being transferred.
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***** Notes on Hours of Work & Tours of Duty *****
The most important point to make when negotiating hours of work is that the normal workday for all employees consists of 8 hours during which time employees will perform regularly assigned duties. The reason firefighters are required to remain beyond 8 hours is so that they can respond to emergencies. This is standby time. Time to eat, sleep, watch TV, or pursue other personal activities as long as they remain ready to respond to an emergency.
Most operation's firefighters have a tour of duty consisting of 24-hour shift. Each shift consists of 8 hours during which time regularly assigned duties are performed as well as emergency responses are made. During the remaining 16 hours, the firefighters are on standby time during which period they are free to eat, sleep, watch TV, or pursue other personal activities as long as they remain ready to respond to an emergency.
The periods of time for regular duty can be negotiated as can the lunch period, etc., for example, regular duty could be from 7:00am to 11:00am; lunch from 11:00am to 1:00pm; regular duty 1:00pm - 5:00pm and standby from 5:00pm to 7:00am.