The Janesville Fire Fighters Association and the city appear to be at odds over a 400% increase in health insurance costs. JFFA President Jason Daskam tells Your Talk Show on WCLO firefighters were using a contractual right to wash their cars at the firehouse, when the city singled them out for an insurance increase. Daskam says, “to raise the costs on fire fighters as part of a petty squabble is unconscionable.” He says if this isn’t retaliation, he doesn’t know what is. The firefighter’s union has filed a “Complaint of Prohibited Practices” with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.
A statement from the City of Janesville calls out a number of fire department practices not afforded to other city employees such as washing personal vehicles with taxpayer funded supplies, and watching the state high school basketball tournament while on the clock.
The statement goes on to say the new insurance plan is actually only an 8 to 11 percent cost increase and it’s comparable to plans received at similar sized fire departments.
