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Warwick Man,

Every Feb. 15th the WFD produces a Unused Sick Pay bonus document. I am referring the 114 men out of the 220 on the department on that list that receive the bonus. It takes 7 years to make the list as you begin receiving the bonus once you accrue 140 sick days in the bank (20 sick days per year x 7 years = 140 days).

Sick days are dished out at 1 2/3 days per month (1.66 days, which frankly is ridiculous) as nobody in the private sector gets 20 sick days per year.

There are very few members of the department that have been on for 7 years that ARE NOT receiving that benefit. (would you like me to list them as I am more than happy to do so) The contributing factor is the COS. Change of Shift. COS is used at any time when someone simply doesnt want to work or has something else to do. COS originally, years ago, was given to the department and used, when for example, a non family member passed and the employee was allowed to swap a shift to pay his respects. Unfortunately, that benefit which no one had issue with, has now been prostituted for any and all purposes, for example, if you have a softball game, instead of taking a vacation day, you do a COS, you preserve your vacation day to be monetized later. No where in the private sector is that allowed.

20 sick days per year is obnoxious and the fact is that since Title 45 allows unlimited sick time for job related illness or injury, the historical sick time data shows that the days are monetized. Who in the world needs 20 sick days? Furthermore, where are the checks and balances to determine what illness was contracted on the job? There are numerous examples of men out on vacation for 12 or more days (one guy was out for 28 days) and then the first day back on rotation they call in sick and the day is not reduced from their bank. Numerous examples.

This is the typical union thought process, attack the messenger and dont speak to the facts. You may want to listen to the chief on the budget hearing tapes so you can hear for yourself the inaccuracies in his statements.