Recently, the Chicago Sun-Times published an article about a significant shift in scheduling practices for the Chicago Fire Department's dispatchers. This change has sparked considerable debate, especially among the workers directly affected. The decision to transition from a rotating shift system to fixed shifts aims to enhance response times and cut down on approximately $9.2 million in annual overtime expenses. However, this move has raised concerns regarding potential employee burnout, which could lead to critical errors in dispatching. For nearly seven decades, fire call takers and dispatchers at Chicago's 911 center adhered to a rotating schedule where they worked four consecutive days on the same shift, followed by two days off before switching to another shift. This pattern repeated every week, with three distinct shifts: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Despite these long-standing practices, the rotating schedule was abolished last week, much to the dismay of their union, IBEW Local 9. As of January 5th, dispatchers handling fire and medical emergency calls were assigned fixed shifts, with the majority placed on the busiest third shift. Gary Schenkel, Executive Director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, explained to the City Council during budget discussions that he was exploring an electronic scheduling system and had enlisted the Illinois Institute of Technology to conduct predictive analyses to identify peak call volumes. The new fixed schedule is a result of these efforts. "On average, we receive over 30% of our calls after 3 p.m., indicating the need to allocate 15-20% more personnel to the third shift," Schenkel stated. "Our current rotating schedule prevents us from consistently assigning staff to periods of peak demand." He acknowledged that 78% of fire alarm employees voted against the change in a recent union poll. However, Schenkel emphasized that the IBEW contract grants the city authority to implement operational adjustments without union approval. Jeff Johnson, a fire and EMS dispatcher and union steward for IBEW Local 9, expressed skepticism about the move, pointing out that no other major U.S. city employs fixed shifts for fire dispatchers. "Rotating shifts prevent burnout caused by constant high-stress situations," he noted. "This change will likely increase overtime costs, as staff will seek more sick leave and vacations to manage stress and personal obligations like doctor visits or childcare emergencies." Johnson also highlighted that the union contract includes seniority-based shift preferences, suggesting that the most seasoned employees might opt for less demanding hours, leaving less-experienced workers to cover busier shifts. Schenkel countered by citing extensive research that disputes claims of heightened stress under fixed schedules. "Employees on fixed shifts report fewer health issues and better sleep patterns compared to those on rotating shifts," he stated. "We believe the benefits of this change outweigh the drawbacks. Let’s evaluate it for 90 days before making any final decisions." Schenkel added that the city has been grappling with rising overtime costs due to a chronic staffing shortage, a problem exacerbated by a $31 million renovation project at the 911 center last year. In previous years, Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed cutting the number of fire dispatchers and police dispatchers, as well as reducing supervisory roles. While some adjustments were made following union negotiations, the broader issue of understaffing persists, contributing to the current crisis. Thanks, Dan and Scott!
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