Excerpts from the Chicago Sun-Times: A recent report from the Office of the Inspector General (IG) has recommended that the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) replace 34 administrative roles with civilian employees, potentially saving over $1.2 million annually and reducing costly overtime expenses. Inspector General Joe Ferguson made the suggestion during a press briefing, highlighting that these positions are not directly related to firefighting or emergency medical services. The IG’s findings come after a thorough review of the duties of 555 uniformed firefighters and paramedics within the city's $576.7 million fire department budget. Ferguson emphasized that by shifting non-emergency tasks to civilians, the CFD could improve efficiency, enhance public safety, and better allocate resources for critical operations. Among the roles identified for potential civilianization were two firefighters who had been serving as mail carriers, though their responsibilities weren’t always clearly documented in job descriptions. The fire department has agreed to implement the recommendations for 32 out of the 35 targeted positions. Commissioner Jose Santiago also pledged to conduct a broader review of all roles, track temporary assignments, and ensure that job descriptions accurately reflect actual responsibilities. However, the move has faced pushback from the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2. The union argues that some of the jobs being considered for civilianization are essential and covered under their current contract. They have already filed a grievance against the department for attempting to reassign some of these roles without negotiation. “Delivering mail has been part of our members’ responsibilities for decades,†the grievance stated. “This is a unilateral change that hasn’t been discussed with us.†Tom Ryan, president of the union, defended the roles, stating that they are vital to the department’s operations and can only be modified through collective bargaining. In addition to the cost-saving measures, the audit also revealed that the fire department may have improperly granted at least 13 accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. These accommodations, which often remove personnel from active duty, were either informal or lacked proper approval from the city’s disability officer. Ferguson urged the department to implement a more systematic approach to managing such requests in compliance with city policy. Thanks, Dan Extrusion Conical Twin Screw Barrel,Extrusion Conical Twin Screw Barrels,Extrusion Conical Twin Screw and Barrels ZHEJIANG BOHAI MACHINERY CO., LTD , https://www.bohai-screw.com