This PowerPoint presentation was developed to introduce the members the concept of the 48/72 (2on/3off) work schedule.

1
Introduction

• This PowerPoint presentation was developed to
  introduce the members the concept of the 48/72
  (2on/3off) work schedule.
• This presentation compares the current 7 group
  system to the proposed 48/72.
• Please view this presentation on a possible
  alternative work schedule with an open mind and
  you just might find yourself surprised at the
  end. Enjoy..

2
Proposal for 48/72 Schedule
3
Introduction

• Some of our members have been looking at and
  discussing the possibility of a 48/72 schedule
  for some time.
• This issue has never been subject to a union
  ballot vote, but the demographics of the
  department and the realities of increased
  commuting times and now increased fuel costs have
  changed and will continue to change.

4
Introduction, continued

• The purpose of this presentation is to present
  the issues relevant to such a change in our
  working hours.
• Any trial period that we would ever propose to
  undertake would be ONLY a trial.
• Any Vote on the matter would be a ballot vote by
  all members, not a hand vote at a meeting
• This is meant to be a fair treatment of the
  issues and questions and comments are welcome
  from all.

5
48/72 Work Schedule Background

• After reviewing other DoD FDs in our area, there
  are an increasing number of them using this
  schedule with satisfaction.
• The departments that switched to this schedule
  have seen
• Relief from long commutes
• Increased moral by providing additional three
  days
• Increased family time

6
48/72 Work Schedule BackgroundCont.

• At this time, there are a number of DoD fire
  departments using this schedule.
• Several others are actively investigating it.
• Most departments that look at this type of change
  vote for a six month or one year trial period.
• In some cases, an escape clause was added to the
  agreement to allow management or labor to opt out
  of the trial period at any time. No department
  has ever exercised this clause.

7
Interesting Findings

• All of the departments working the 48/72 share an
  overwhelming level of satisfaction with this
  schedule.
• None of the agencies that have implemented this
  schedule have decided to return to their previous
  schedules.

8
What does the 48/72 schedule look like?
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
On Duty On Duty Off Off Off On Duty On Duty
Off Off Off On Duty On Duty Off Off
This is one of several groups firefighters would
fall into.
9
How do the schedules compare?
10
How many days will I wake up at home with my
family?

• Current Schedule
• 2 days one month, 5 days the next month
• 52-55 days per year

• 48/72 Schedule
• 10-12 days per month
• 127 days per year
• Well Over a 100 Increase in staying at home time

11
How many three day off periods do I get in a
48/72 schedule?

• Current Schedule
• NO 3-Day Breaks.
• 4-Day Breaks are only once every 7 weeks, so you
  only get them 7 times per year

• 48/72 Schedule
• 3-Day breaks happen 1 every week
• 4-5 per month
• 51 3-Day breaks/year

12
How does it effect my use of Vacation time? (Part
1)
Taking leave on the current schedule means
working around your schedule to maximize the days
off you get for the leave you burn. The best you
can do is 8 days off when working around a 4-day
break, and thats only every 7th week. Need leave
in between? Right now you just have to burn more
leave!
13
How does it effect my use of Vacation time? (Part
2)

• Taking leave on the proposed 48/72 means you take
  leave when you need to be off, not when you have
  a 4-day.
• The best you can do is 8 days off for 2 days
  leave used, but you can do that on any week, not
  just once every 7 weeks!

14
How does this schedule affect my commute to or
from work?

• 48/72 Schedule
• 78 days per year commuting
• Using example commute of 45 miles with 45 minute
  average travel time
• 7020 miles per year
• 117 travel hours per year.

• Current Schedule
• 156 days per year commuting
• Using example commute of 45 miles with 45 minute
  average travel time
• 14040 miles per year
• 234 travel hours per year.

15
How does this schedule affect my commute to or
from work?

• Only ½ the commute miles, meaning less gas used
  as well as less wear and tear on vehicles.
• Not to mention time spent commuting when you
  could be home with your family.

16
How does this schedule affect my commute to or
from work?

• Current Schedule
• 156 days per year commuting
• Using same example commute of 45 miles with 3.00
  per gallon gas on average and an average of 20
  miles to the gallon
• 7020 miles per year
• 351 gallons of gas
• 1053 gas cost per year.

• 48/72 Schedule
• 78 days per year commuting
• Using same example commute of 45 miles with 3.00
  per gallon gas on average and an average of 20
  miles to the gallon
• 3510 miles per year
• 175.5 gallons of gas
• 526.50 gas cost per year.

17
How much will I save?

• Regardless of your mileage, how far you travel,
  or how spectacular your vehicles gas mileage is,
  your current fuel costs are cut in half by going
  to the 48/72 schedule.
• You will also see your Brakes, Tires, etclast
  much longer.

18
How much will I save?

• Save wear and tear on yourself by sitting in
  traffic 50 less.
• Have 50 less exposure to a possible traffic
  accident.
• Fewer miles driven each year will reduce your
  insurance costs.
• Vehicle retains value over a longer period of
  time due to lower mileage.

19
Fatigue and the 48/72

• One of the biggest advantages of the 48/72
• schedule is it allows employees more opportunity
  to
• recover from sleep deprivation / long-term
  fatigue.

20
Fatigue and the 48/72

• Departments using this schedule found that after
  the schedule change, concerns about increased
  fatigue were not realized.
• Departments found that over time the schedule can
  significantly reduce fatigue.
• Departments saw no increase in injuries or
  disabilities resulting from the schedule change.
• Departments have seen a reduction in sick leave
  use.

21
Fatigue and the 48/72

• During busy periods, short term fatigue is
  expected for some individuals working our current
  schedule, the 48/72, or any schedule.
• Its the nature of being a Firefighter
• Many employees already voluntarily work extended
  shifts (i.e. 48s, 72s, 96s, ect.) by trading
  time.
• 48/72 schedule increases rest periods from 2 days
  to 3 days and increases the frequency of rest
  periods.
• The frequency of 3 days increases to a 3-day
  every week, as opposed to only a 2-day every 9
  days and a 4-day only once every 7th week.

22
How does this effect my personal issues?

• Every person working here may have different
  personal issues arise from any change in
  schedules.

23
How does it effect my spending time with my
children? (Part 1)

• Some personnel have expressed issues because they
  have standing agreements with divorced spouses
  and think that they will have to go back to court
  to work out these issues.
• As they stand, any agreement which states that
  children are with the firefighter on there 2 day
  breaks can be applied to the second and third day
  of the 3 day break with no change to divorce
  decrees it is the same 2 day break, only with
  the 48/72 it happens more often.

24
How does it effect my spending time with my
children? (Part 2)
On the current schedule, anyone who has their
children with them on there 2 day breaks, only
has them for 3 or 4 breaks a month, and then only
for a night or two (Note highlighted 2-day
breaks). If you get held on overtime on your
2-day, then you cant have your kids for 2 days
that 2-day gets spent working overtime.
25
How does it effect my spending time with my
children? (Part 3)

• Only looking at the 2nd and 3rd days of all of
  your 3-day breaks, this allows for one 2 day
  period with your kids every week.
• If you do get held on overtime the first day of
  your 3-day break, you still get your children for
  2 days every week!
• Some ex-spouses may be more inclined to work with
  you, as you now have a set, repeating 2 week
  schedule.

26
Will this affect my ability to do Shift Trades ?

• Will still be able to do shift trades for the
  same amount of days under the current contract.
• Might be able to work with management to trade 24
  hour or 48 hour shifts.
• Will have to be worked out with management if
  this passes.

27
Why should management like the 48/72 schedule?

• Better Workflow and Continuity as a shift works
  for two days in a row.
• Easier to schedule training coverage on second
  day of shift without the complication of
  holdovers and need for overtime to insure
  coverage that we currently experience.
• Morale increase in the members, which creates a
  happier workforce.

28
Why should management like the 48/72
schedule?...continued

• Some daily routines do not need to be repeated
  such as Shift Change, thus increasing
  productivity.
• Management can show that they are indeed
  forward-thinking and willing to accept and
  embrace change.

29
CON

• Every shift is a 48 hours
• This disturbs a long standing routine
• May cause stress with some family routines
  initially.
• Second of 2 shifts could be more demanding if a
  busy first shift occurred.
• Would have to take off both work days to ensure
  having off on the second day unless you worked
  out a trade with yourself or with someone else,
  which would still be available.
• Decrease in Morale of some members, simply
  because they do not want to try the 48/72
  schedule.

30
PRO

• A standardized 2 week schedule which is easier to
  plan around.
• Better continuity of workflow for two days in a
  row
• Less money spent on rising fuel costs.
• Easier to maximize leave used.
• Still able to trade days as on the current
  schedule but with an increase in rest time after
  any work period.

31
PRO, cont

• Increase in Morale as seen in Departments that
  have switched.
• More days start at home with your family.
• Commuting time and distance cut in half,
  resulting in less driving expenses and less wear
  and tear on vehicle and you.
• Commuting gas cost cut in half, due to half the
  number of trips back and forth to work.
• No more waiting with anticipation for 7th week
  (4-day weekend) to roll around to get more than a
  day or two off 3-day breaks are every week!

32
What do we do now????

• If you think this proposal has merit, talk it up
  with you crew, families, other members, and
  Station Steward.
• If enough interest is shown, we can move towards
  a poll and than a vote to move forward with a
  trial run period of six months or a year - See
  next slide for example
• The trial would be contingent on approval of
  management.
• All issues relating to the trial would be worked
  out by committee and with management between now
  and the start of the trial.

33
Vote Proposal for 48/72
Paper vote to start
6 month trial period then a paper vote
(YES) Continual Trial
(NO) Return to normal schedule
(YES) Continue Trial
After one year conduct a paper vote
(YES) Make it permanent
(NO) Return to normal schedule