"two Hatting" do you agree or disagree?

[canman]

have you guys been reading the articles on firefighters "two Hatting"? here is a link to firehouse.com article.
cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=61545

[thelurker]

Some good coverage of it on statter911 also. It really doesn't matter what I think, this is a union policy and battle.

[fireman1190]

"Two-hatting" is an interesting issue, and there are understandable reasons for why it should be encouraged or not allowed.

Paid guys exist anywhere that the workload exceeds what can be provided by volunteers. Therfore, more volunteers = less paid guys. And you can't blame the unions for trying to ensure their profession, but I disagree.

I think two-hatting can help heal the rift that exists in some departments between volunteer and paid staff. Volunteers see that the paid firemen are willing to help them during their off duty hours, and paid guys don't forget what its like to work for free.

In my department in West Virginia, we are basically a city and county fire department in one. The paid firemen work for the city. If they come in during an off-duty period, they are either paid overtime or volunteer. The reason is because in this rural county, our town is the only incorporated town. Therefore we cover the city limits of 9,500 residents, and an area of rural territory beyond that. If the call is in the city, they get overtime. Outside the city, they volunteer. We get along very well with our paid staff.

This doesn't work the same way in Burlington County because of established town borders. But I think paid firemen should be allowed to volunteer if they want to (in another town obviously). It is selfish and unproductive of the union to prevent other firemen from volunteering. Not only that, but intimidating their members from speaking out about it.

It should be a personal choice.

[hsmith8185]

I absolutly agree, we have career staff that serve in other towns, we allow. encourage, and pay our career personel overtime when they return for a call. The staff that serve in other towns appear to be more experienced, well rounded thinkers, and continually attend schools. I enjoy the drills and training sessions with the career and the volunteer they can learn alot from each other.