City layoffs have police, fire fuming

WOONSOCKET, R.I.—Rhode Island’s budget crisis has one city planning for the worst.

With maybe dozens of layoffs in the police and fire departments, members of the rank and file turned out for a council meeting Monday night where they learned more about who might be on the unemployment line.  NBC 10’s Brian Crandall reports from Woonsocket.

Firefighters and police officers packed a Woonsocket City Council session hoping to get their say on the possibility of massive layoffs.

The police and fire unions say they’ve heard that dozens of jobs could be cut.

Mayor Susan Menard’s administration says it is planning for the state to cut more than $3 million in aid to the city as a result of the budget crisis.

The police union says it’s heard from Menard that more than 30 of its members could be laid off as a result.

The fire union says up to 50 firefighters could be forced out.  That represents about a third of each department.
When reached by phone, Menard told NBC 10 that she doesn’t know where they’re coming up with those numbers.

Menard says she has been trying to get the unions to agree to contract concessions instead.

But on Monday night, police officers and firefighters did not hear the latest, as the mayor’s administration presents its proposal to the city council behind closed doors.
But they warn of dire public safety consequences if the big layoffs become reality.