On Saturday firefighters will be honoring their coworkers for heroism and service at a retirement and awards dinner.

 

But for them, the day is being overshadowed by low morale.

 

They blame the fire chief verbally attacking them, and the Youngstown city administration not hiring more firefighters. 

 

The union says firefighters say they are sick and tired of being the city's punching bag and want they want the community to know when they take sick days it is time they earned by working and if they take a day off for sick leave it is not because they just want a day off.

 

After a deadly 24 hours in Youngstown involving a serious vehicle crash in which one person died, a raging fire and search for a person inside, the union called the situation unacceptable citing NOT enough safety services to respond to a series of dangerous incidents.

 

"We have discussed hiring and staffing problems with the city numerous times. We don't have enough staff," Jon Racco, the International Firefighters Union President of Local 312 said.

 

Fire Chief Barry Finley agreed, there's a problem but he blamed the fire fighters saying they should take responsibility for calling off.

 

Chief Finley tells WFMJ News the Midlothian Engine 9 and McCullum Engine 15 are both closed this Saturday.

 

Chief Finely states that's because five people reported off sick on Saturday. Finley asked why five people reporting off is a staffing issue?

 

But IAFF President Jon Racco verbally slammed the fire chief for not explaining sick time is earned.

 

He adds flu and COVID-19 variants are still going around and emphasized firefighters are human and they get sick.

 

Racco also told WFMJ news the fire department is already down with three fire fighters injured on the job.

 

"They were injured on fires. We have a firefighter off on extended leave due to being burned. We have multiple members that have sick family members and they need to be with them. Right now one includes a firefighter whose father is in Hospice right now. One firefighter his spouse, his wife, had their baby prematurely," Racco emphasized.

 

He says the fire chief  has not called to check and see how those firefighters are doing. 

 

The Union says a good fire chief would have enough staff in place to cover sick leave like any other business does. Prior to this administration there were 127 firefighters, and now we are down to 115," Racco added.

 

"The administration allowed him to hire ten but he has only hired seven. ... When are we going to hire three more people we need?," Racco asked. 

 

The union also said Chief Finely's failure to secure enough staffing has resulted in apparatus closures almost daily without anyone calling off.

 

But Chief Finley stated, "The only reason any fire station is ever closed is due to call off's.

 

Chief Finley, was unable to do an on camera interview this weekend, but emphasized a Fire fighters responsibility is to come to work.

 

"If this were any other business, most of these firefighters would be terminated by now," Finley said.

 

The IAFF local considers that a threat. 

 

Finely tells WFMJ News he is tired of them trying to portray himself and the administration as bad guys.

 

Finley explained when firefighters call off it costs taxpayers and the department has a budget.

 

"The sole reason we're here is to help people. We're supposed to be public servants," Finley emphasized.

 

This week he told WFMJ news roughly 93 percent of the current staff has called off at once in the past year.

 

But firefighters explain most other businesses likely face similar situations with the flu, COVID, on the job accidents, when young children get sick, spouses have surgery, or have babies, or when relatives are terminally ill.

 

It's offensive for the chief to use fire fighters as a punching bag stating when the bell rings, firefighters rush to a fire to help, even at risk of their own peril, " said Racco.