Guest guest Posted February 8, 2000 Report Share Posted February 8, 2000 The Philadelphia Daily News, February 2, 2000 Firemen to march for Hep-C by Knipe Brown Daily News Staff Writer City firefighters voted overwhelmingly last night to organize a national protest march at this summer's Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, disrupting it if necessary in an effort to have Hepatitis C recognized as an occupational disease. Leaders of Local 22, the city firefighter's union, said they plan to ask firefighters from across the nation to join their 4,000 active and retired members in the march. Their goal, said union President Casey, is to persuade lawmakers to enact legislation requiring state and local governments to cover Hepatitis C-related medical costs for all firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians diagnosed with the potentially-fatal disease. " We're fighting for our brother firefighters' lives, " Casey said. " We need to know that if we get sick from this disease, we'll be taken care of. " The union intends to hold another vote tonight. About 50 firefighters attended last night's meeting, voting unanimously in favor of the march. Casey said the march is not a protest of Mayor Street's reappointment Monday of Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston, who has come under attack by the union in recent months for failing to address the department's Hepatitis outbreak. But it was clear last night the march is fueled in part by the union's distrust of Hairston and the mayor. Street, who last week pledged up to $3 million a year to help hepatitis-stricken firefighters, has been vague about how the money will be dispersed and whether infected firefighters will be able to keep their jobs if and when they run out of sick time. At least one sick firefighter was forced out of his job when he ran out of sick time, and another died of the disease while battling the city for his back sick time and medical benefits. About 130 city firefighters, or 6 percent of 2,100 who were screened, tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus, a blood-borne pathogen firefighters believe they contracted while treating infected fire and rescue victims. But Casey and other rank-and-file firefighters insisted last night that their concerns about Hairston go far deeper than the Hepatitis C controversy. Yesterday, Street elaborated on his decision to reappoint Hairston. " I think reservations that they have and that I have can be overcome, " Street said. " He is a strong manager, and I think that he will continue to do a good job for the city of Philadelphia. " Hairston would not discuss specifics, but said he intends to listen to their concerns and do everything he can to improve his relationship with the union. " I'm looking for peace, and I'll do whatever I can to get peace. Hopefully, they will do the same, " said the commissioner. Street has said he hopes to persuade the union not to march. Staff writer Mensah M. Dean contributed to this report. ) 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hepatitis Central http://hepatitis-central.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2000 Report Share Posted February 8, 2000 The Philadelphia Daily News, February 2, 2000 Firemen to march for Hep-C by Knipe Brown Daily News Staff Writer City firefighters voted overwhelmingly last night to organize a national protest march at this summer's Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, disrupting it if necessary in an effort to have Hepatitis C recognized as an occupational disease. Leaders of Local 22, the city firefighter's union, said they plan to ask firefighters from across the nation to join their 4,000 active and retired members in the march. Their goal, said union President Casey, is to persuade lawmakers to enact legislation requiring state and local governments to cover Hepatitis C-related medical costs for all firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians diagnosed with the potentially-fatal disease. " We're fighting for our brother firefighters' lives, " Casey said. " We need to know that if we get sick from this disease, we'll be taken care of. " The union intends to hold another vote tonight. About 50 firefighters attended last night's meeting, voting unanimously in favor of the march. Casey said the march is not a protest of Mayor Street's reappointment Monday of Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston, who has come under attack by the union in recent months for failing to address the department's Hepatitis outbreak. But it was clear last night the march is fueled in part by the union's distrust of Hairston and the mayor. Street, who last week pledged up to $3 million a year to help hepatitis-stricken firefighters, has been vague about how the money will be dispersed and whether infected firefighters will be able to keep their jobs if and when they run out of sick time. At least one sick firefighter was forced out of his job when he ran out of sick time, and another died of the disease while battling the city for his back sick time and medical benefits. About 130 city firefighters, or 6 percent of 2,100 who were screened, tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus, a blood-borne pathogen firefighters believe they contracted while treating infected fire and rescue victims. But Casey and other rank-and-file firefighters insisted last night that their concerns about Hairston go far deeper than the Hepatitis C controversy. Yesterday, Street elaborated on his decision to reappoint Hairston. " I think reservations that they have and that I have can be overcome, " Street said. " He is a strong manager, and I think that he will continue to do a good job for the city of Philadelphia. " Hairston would not discuss specifics, but said he intends to listen to their concerns and do everything he can to improve his relationship with the union. " I'm looking for peace, and I'll do whatever I can to get peace. Hopefully, they will do the same, " said the commissioner. Street has said he hopes to persuade the union not to march. Staff writer Mensah M. Dean contributed to this report. ) 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hepatitis Central http://hepatitis-central.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2000 Report Share Posted February 8, 2000 The Philadelphia Daily News, February 2, 2000 Firemen to march for Hep-C by Knipe Brown Daily News Staff Writer City firefighters voted overwhelmingly last night to organize a national protest march at this summer's Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, disrupting it if necessary in an effort to have Hepatitis C recognized as an occupational disease. Leaders of Local 22, the city firefighter's union, said they plan to ask firefighters from across the nation to join their 4,000 active and retired members in the march. Their goal, said union President Casey, is to persuade lawmakers to enact legislation requiring state and local governments to cover Hepatitis C-related medical costs for all firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians diagnosed with the potentially-fatal disease. " We're fighting for our brother firefighters' lives, " Casey said. " We need to know that if we get sick from this disease, we'll be taken care of. " The union intends to hold another vote tonight. About 50 firefighters attended last night's meeting, voting unanimously in favor of the march. Casey said the march is not a protest of Mayor Street's reappointment Monday of Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston, who has come under attack by the union in recent months for failing to address the department's Hepatitis outbreak. But it was clear last night the march is fueled in part by the union's distrust of Hairston and the mayor. Street, who last week pledged up to $3 million a year to help hepatitis-stricken firefighters, has been vague about how the money will be dispersed and whether infected firefighters will be able to keep their jobs if and when they run out of sick time. At least one sick firefighter was forced out of his job when he ran out of sick time, and another died of the disease while battling the city for his back sick time and medical benefits. About 130 city firefighters, or 6 percent of 2,100 who were screened, tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus, a blood-borne pathogen firefighters believe they contracted while treating infected fire and rescue victims. But Casey and other rank-and-file firefighters insisted last night that their concerns about Hairston go far deeper than the Hepatitis C controversy. Yesterday, Street elaborated on his decision to reappoint Hairston. " I think reservations that they have and that I have can be overcome, " Street said. " He is a strong manager, and I think that he will continue to do a good job for the city of Philadelphia. " Hairston would not discuss specifics, but said he intends to listen to their concerns and do everything he can to improve his relationship with the union. " I'm looking for peace, and I'll do whatever I can to get peace. Hopefully, they will do the same, " said the commissioner. Street has said he hopes to persuade the union not to march. Staff writer Mensah M. Dean contributed to this report. ) 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hepatitis Central http://hepatitis-central.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2000 Report Share Posted February 8, 2000 The Philadelphia Daily News, February 2, 2000 Firemen to march for Hep-C by Knipe Brown Daily News Staff Writer City firefighters voted overwhelmingly last night to organize a national protest march at this summer's Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, disrupting it if necessary in an effort to have Hepatitis C recognized as an occupational disease. Leaders of Local 22, the city firefighter's union, said they plan to ask firefighters from across the nation to join their 4,000 active and retired members in the march. Their goal, said union President Casey, is to persuade lawmakers to enact legislation requiring state and local governments to cover Hepatitis C-related medical costs for all firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians diagnosed with the potentially-fatal disease. " We're fighting for our brother firefighters' lives, " Casey said. " We need to know that if we get sick from this disease, we'll be taken care of. " The union intends to hold another vote tonight. About 50 firefighters attended last night's meeting, voting unanimously in favor of the march. Casey said the march is not a protest of Mayor Street's reappointment Monday of Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston, who has come under attack by the union in recent months for failing to address the department's Hepatitis outbreak. But it was clear last night the march is fueled in part by the union's distrust of Hairston and the mayor. Street, who last week pledged up to $3 million a year to help hepatitis-stricken firefighters, has been vague about how the money will be dispersed and whether infected firefighters will be able to keep their jobs if and when they run out of sick time. At least one sick firefighter was forced out of his job when he ran out of sick time, and another died of the disease while battling the city for his back sick time and medical benefits. About 130 city firefighters, or 6 percent of 2,100 who were screened, tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus, a blood-borne pathogen firefighters believe they contracted while treating infected fire and rescue victims. But Casey and other rank-and-file firefighters insisted last night that their concerns about Hairston go far deeper than the Hepatitis C controversy. Yesterday, Street elaborated on his decision to reappoint Hairston. " I think reservations that they have and that I have can be overcome, " Street said. " He is a strong manager, and I think that he will continue to do a good job for the city of Philadelphia. " Hairston would not discuss specifics, but said he intends to listen to their concerns and do everything he can to improve his relationship with the union. " I'm looking for peace, and I'll do whatever I can to get peace. Hopefully, they will do the same, " said the commissioner. Street has said he hopes to persuade the union not to march. Staff writer Mensah M. Dean contributed to this report. ) 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hepatitis Central http://hepatitis-central.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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