Sun Coast Fire Fighters Seek Answers To Airport Privatization...

Sun Coast Fire Fighters Seek Answers To Airport Privatization...

October 2, 2006

SARASOTA, FL. (NS/IAFF2546) -

Sun Coast, FL Local 2546 Firefighters continued its fight against the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority by holding another peaceful protest and public information picket at the SRQ International Airport. Approximately 50 Firefighters along with supporters marched along University Parkway and Tamiami Trail holding signs and passing out information about what was taking place with the privatization of the Fire Service at SRQ International...

“People need to know that fire service is changing at the airport – and not for the better,” says Mike Stephenson, President of Local 2546. “The airport authority is trading experienced fire fighters – all who already know how to best protect the airport – for Rural-Metro employees. It just doesn’t make sense. Why change something that already works well?”

Firefighters have been booted out for no reason given other than "saving money" as said by SRQ Airport Manager Fred Piccolo. The Airport has lost over 300 years of Aircraft Firefighting experience and replaced that with lesser experienced and qualified individuals which Merve Kennell, IFF 2546 Business Agent, believes "will create safety and security problems for the flying public."

Local supporters drove by the picket line honking their horns and some were dressed in red to show their support for the firefighters. Over 200 names were collected on individual signature petitions which will be sent to Governor Jeb Bush, asking him not to reappointment the 3 SRQ Airport Board Authority members in November...

On August 15th, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority voted 4-1 to boot out the IAFF 2546 Union Firefighters and replace them with private Rural Metro company Firefighters. In a subsequent meeting, SRQ Airport Manager told the Board that Rural Metro had already hired a full compliment of 16 Firefighters plus the Fire Chief, but as of Sunday October the 1st, the Rural Metro company was stil 6 Firefighters short of having their full compliment hired...

The private Fire fighting company has 1 year in which to get their State certifications for their Firefighters, however in the mean time, men with over 300 years total experience are out of a job. This just doesn't make any sense and certainly there are other issues being addressed about the management decision that brought all of this about...

Airport Update Sept. 30, 2006 -

Matt:

One of the airports Operations Officers came over to say good bye to us...
He told us that the new CHIEF has already gotten in trouble with the tower for an incursion of the runway...
We also found out that they currently only have ten (10) men hired other than the chief...
Fred has been stating that the reason rural/metro will be safer is because of the increase of manpower...
None of the people hired by rural/metro other than the four men from the former Fire department have any prior experience with a public airport. As soon as some of these men have passed their tests or become State certified with the Fire Department they will no doubt hire on elsewhere for more money, when given the opportunity...
I feel the public has a right to know this...
(Sender name withheld upon request)

This is what is astounding about the SRQ International Airport. The Airport Board are all political appointees. This was changed several years ago in a Public referendum. These political appointees have no airport experience what so ever...

SRQ International is a stagnant airport. Their number of passengers is down and I’ve spoken to people who fly in and out of SRQ every week. SRQ is either half empty or half full, drive by it or go inside and you’ll see what I mean...

The Airport Board just gave Fred Piccolo, SRQ Airport Manager, a contract that exceeds Governor Jeb Bush's listed salary…

Get this:
A salary increase from $166,009 to $175,970 ($9.961.00). The Governor’s salary is $124,175. Is there anybody who thinks the job of running this small airport is more important than that of the job of Governor of the State of Florida???

The salary range for airport managers at a "C" level airport like SRQ is $30,000 to $70,000 annually which can be easily found on the Internet. Compare the salary package of the SRQ Airport Manager to that of a "real airport," say Tampa, and you will be shocked!!!

I have also seen that the SRQ Airport Manager drives a Lexus and the SRQ Airport pays all expenses. I’ve noticed most Sarasota County Battalion Fire Chief’s driving either Chevrolet Blazers or Ford Explorers...

Bonuses of 6.5% and $3,500 for meeting minimal goals per the SRQ Airport Manager’s written contract that I understand ‘he’ helped to write. A Free House reported to be worth $500,000 with $25,000 paid to furnish this house for which he pays no mortgage, no taxes and no insurance on???

There are also public Tax records showing other off Airport property paying no School taxes on what I’ve been told are ‘rental properties’…

Does anybody other than me smell something? None of this makes any sense and it certainly needs to be investigated by Tallassee to say the very least…

This Airport seems to have been going unnoticed ‘under the radar’ for far to long, until now when the privatization of the Fire Service surfaced for the need to “save money.”

Citizens have been participating in an online poll at News Sarasota.com and they are overwhelmingly saying that they are against the SRQ Fire Service privatization. The results as of this report were 82% against the Airport going Private with their Fire Service versus 18% who agreed with the Airport’s action...

Stand up and support your Local IAFF 2546 Firefighters and help right the terrible injustice brought by the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Board and the SRQ Airport Manager Fred Piccolo. Call Governor Jeb Bush and you State Representatives and tell them this is WRONG...

The Airport Authority is appointed by the Governor. Three of the members are up for re-appointment in the next year, and Local 2546 is encouraging supporters to write Governor Jeb Bush to let him know that they are disappointed in the decision to privatize...

You can go to the Local IAFF 2546 website for instructions on how to write Governor Bush and contact your State Elected Officials by going to: http://www.iaff2546.com ...

For now, that's just 'OUR' opinion...

Matt Bruce
Managing Editor
News Sarasota.com
Host Of:
"The Captain's AMERICA" Radio Show
Heard Monday Thru Thursday On
1490 WWPR Radio
Bradenton-Sarasota-Tampa & Venice, FL...