By Michael Kransz
mlive.com
LANSING, Mich. — Hundreds of firefighters packed the Michigan Capitol Building on Tuesday, banging on the rotunda guardrails and chanting for lawmakers to “take the vote” and “keep your promise.”
The firefighters traveled to Lansing to advocate for a stalled bill that would require the topic of minimum staffing levels be part of collective bargaining discussions between firefighters and the cities and townships they serve. Police officers would also be included in this change.
The change wouldn’t mandate any specific minimum staffing level, and it also would not force a city to meet staffing levels if they don’t have the ability to pay, according to Matt Sahr, president of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union.
However, it would likely result in more staffing for fire departments around the state and address inadequate staffing levels.
“For far too long, Michigan has been underserved,” Sahr said. “We have just 50 career firefighters per 100,000 (residents). Our surrounding states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois have over 100 career firefighters per 100,000.”
Currently, representatives for firefighters and police officers can bring up staffing levels during bargaining. However, the city can simply deny the request to discuss it.
Under the House bill, if minimum staffing levels were brought up during bargaining and an agreement couldn’t be reached, a third-party arbitrator would then help resolve the dispute.
Understaffing doesn’t just endanger firefighters responding to emergencies, it also endangers residents, Sahr said. And it can lead to delayed response times and closed stations.
The firefighters were supported Tuesday by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who joined them earlier in their rally on the Capitol steps.
Many of those hundreds of firefighters later entered the Capitol, chanting outside the state House chamber and banging on the rotunda guardrails before and during session Tuesday afternoon.
“Take the vote! Take the vote! Take the vote!” the firefighters chanted.
That vote, however, won’t be happening this week.
“The agenda for this week has already been negotiated and determined,” said Jess Travers, spokesperson for the Michigan House Democratic Caucus. “Going forward, however, there will be continued discussions about what comes to the floor. As always, when we have the votes for important legislation, we’ll move on it.”
It remains to be seen if the bill, which hasn’t moved forward since November 2023, will be taken up in the remaining weeks of lame duck and full control of state government by Democrats. Republicans will hold the House majority next year.
House Republican leadership did not immediately return a request for comment.
While the House bill appears to be stalled, on Tuesday state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D- Eastpointe, introduced an identical bill in the Senate.
“Firefighters’ concerns about minimum manpower are legitimate, and they ought to be able to at least have the conversation during contract negotiations,” said Klinefelt, chair of the Senate Veterans and Emergency Services Committee. “Firefighters are stretched thin, and this is just one tool to address the issue.”
The House bill was introduced in May 2023 by state Rep. Jim Haadsma, D- Battle Creek.
“We also extend our gratitude to Representative Jim Haadsma … Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the dozens of lawmakers who stood with us today to address critical staffing shortages,” Sahr said. “Now, we call on those with the authority to bring this legislation to a vote to act swiftly — protecting our communities statewide and the firefighters who serve them.”
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