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CONSTANT STAFFING

M.P. 104.03 06/02-R

• PURPOSE
• CONSTANT STAFFING DEFINED
• MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

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PURPOSE

This procedure defines the Constant Staffing Program, establishes the responsibilities of members who participate in it, sets the procedures for those who manage it, and defines how problems are resolved.

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CONSTANT STAFFING DEFINED

Constant Staffing is defined as the process wherein positions that are vacant on a given day are filled, following seniority and in rotation, by members of the appropriate rank and qualification on an overtime basis. Constant Staffing is followed to keep staffing levels of all units at required levels for safe and efficient operations. Included in the Constant Staffing Program are 24-hour, rescue, and partial shift positions. Constant Staffing is a privilege, not a right, and all efforts are made to keep opportunities as equal as possible.

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MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

Any member wishing to participate in the Constant Staffing Program is required to:

1. Have their correct phone number on file with South Shift Command/Central District, as well as their own district office. Central District will also file pager numbers and cell phone numbers of those members who wish to have them listed.  Maximum of two (2) phone numbers listed.

2.      Contact the South Shift Command Office to remove their name from the list prior to 0600 if they are unable to work that day. If a member does not remove his/her name from the list and refuses to Constant Staff when called, that member will receive a refusal. If there are two refusals (on the same list) in a six-month period, the member will forfeit their next opportunity on that list.

3.      Arrive at their assigned position on time to receive pay for the entire (24-Hour, Rescue, Brush, or Partial). Late arrivals will be paid for the hours they work if less than 24. Members with excessive drive times due to their location (i.e. Pinetop, Flagstaff, etc.) will not be hired for a 24-hour position.  If a member cannot make the start time for a 24-hour position, it is their responsibility to remove their name from the Constant Staffing List, to avoid a refusal.

4.      Work the entire shift - no AWR's, vacation, union business, comp-time, city business, etc., will be allowed while constant staffing.

5.      Maintain and have in their possession a valid Arizona Driver's License if working in a driving position.  While working on a rescue, you need a current DHS EMT certification.

6.      To remain at their duty station or the phone number supplied until 0700 or until the "Constant Staffing is Complete" message is given by AHQ. In addition, the member must notify South Shift Command if they are not at the supplied phone number, including constant staffing, AWR's, and vacation.

7.      If a member cannot work, they shall notify South Shift Command to remove their name from the list for the given period that they are unavailable to Constant Staff.

8.      Members working shifts other than 56-hour will automatically be added to Constant Staffing lists on weekends and non-major holidays.

9.      Respond as quickly as possible (within 10 minutes) to pages or phone calls from Central Fire District personnel involving Constant Staffing. Numerous phone calls are made each morning to fill various positions. Company officers need to insure that the Do Not Disturb-"DND" light is not activated on the station phones. In order to have all units appropriately staffed and in service at 0800, it is imperative that members be available for phone calls if they are eligible to Constant Staff.

10.  Notify CFD personnel as soon as any conflicts/problems are discovered in the Constant Staffing process.

11.  Work in a cooperative manner to resolve any Constant Staffing problems.

ELIGIBILITY / SENIORITY

All members are eligible to Constant Staff provided:

1. It has been six months since their date of entry into the academy.

2.      They have not had two refusals (on the same list) within six (6) months.

3.      Working the shift will not cause them to violate the 72-hour rule.  (M.P 103.07)

4.      They have placed their name on the Constant Staffing list at the predetermined times (January of each year).

5.      The ALS and BLS rescue Constant Staffing lists will be established using the date of hire into the Phoenix Fire Department Training Academy.

6.      They are not on sick leave, industrial, or alternate duty assignment or FEMA activation.

FILLING DAILY VACANT POSITIONS

Positions that are vacant for the day will be filled in the following order to fulfill staffing needs:

1. Rovers.

2.      Current promotional lists.

3.      Requests to act out-of-class.

4.      Constant Staff, if vacant positions still exist.

     NOTE:

Specialty positions such as HAZ MAT, ARFF,  C614, CV, and FITS may be worked out of seniority or out of order to fulfill staffing requirements or equalize opportunities.

On days when we are over-staffed and there are vacancies on rescues, personnel who are on the 5-shift rescue qualifier list will be used.

HOLDING PERSONNEL FOR CONSTANT STAFFING

Holding of personnel for Constant Staffing will be done when the member is:

1.      Affected by M.P. 103.02B and Bereavement Leave Policy

2.      Affected by M.P. 103.07 and the maximum consecutive shift policy (An AWR following a 24-hour Constant Staff does not qualify for a hold due to the 72-hour rule.) (A 24-hour Constant Staff following a 24-hour AWR will qualify for a hold.)

3.      Affected by M.P. 103.03 and participating in required military training, as determined by the Personnel Control Officer

4.      On City Business Leave, Union Business Leave, or Tobin Day.

A.  For members on Tobin Day leave- members will be held automatically for both days following their Tobin Day.  Members may request to Constant Staff after their Tobin Day by calling South Shift Command.  Members will not be eligible for a “hold” for the two (2) days prior to their Tobin Day.

5.      Up for both the 24-hour and Rescue List simultaneously.  The member will work one and be held for the other based on staffing needs to be determined by South Shift Command members.

Please Note: At no time will a member be held for Constant Staffing when they are being paid overtime to participate in another department function/activity, including FEMA activation.

Members will be placed in a Constant Staffing "hold" status in accordance with this procedure and upon notification from a Department/Section Head making the request. As with all "holds", the member must be available to work on the first available day. If s/he chooses not to work, the list will pass them in the normal rotation. It shall be the individual member's responsibility to notify the South Shift Commander of the conflict prior to 0600 hours on the eligible day.

MEMBERS SHALL NOT

Place requests for any Constant Staffing positions (except those rescues starting late). If members request late rescue positions (those starting at 1400 hours) the assignments for those positions will be made on a seniority basis for requests made prior to 1700 hours the day prior. Requests made after 1700 hours will be made on a first come, first serve basis.

Personnel on industrial or sick leave will not be eligible for Constant Staffing.

FILLING LATE VACANCIES

If the filling of vacancies will require additional time beyond the 0730 release time, an announcement will be made via appropriate means notifying personnel to stand-by. When all vacancies have been filled, a second announcement will be made, stating that Constant Staffing has been completed. On-Duty members who turn down Constant Staffing opportunities after the 0730 time has been extended, will be charged with a refusal.

HOLIDAY CONSTANT STAFFING LIST

Due to the difficulty in finding personnel to work July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve, a Holiday Constant Staffing List will be used. Prior to the holiday (those listed) a special holiday sign up will be advertised in the buckslip. Those members who sign up will be placed on a list by seniority. The Holiday Constant Staffing List will be used to fill vacancies on July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve only.

OUT OF CLASS CONSTANT STAFFING

When a position above the rank of firefighter cannot be filled with a person of the same rank, an "out of class" Constant Staffer may be hired. If the position to be filled is on a Special Operations company, Special Operations qualifications will be adhered to.

SOUTH SHIFT COMMAND/CFD PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES

South Shift Command/Central Fire District Personnel are required to:

1. Set their station assignment board following established procedures (see below) and inform the off-going shift of Constant Staffing needs in a timely manner.

2.      Compile and transmit the Constant Staffing lists to all stations in a timely manner. Stations and off-duty personnel should refrain from calling CFD for their position on a list. Please call a fire station for your position on the list.

3.      Remove those members from the list who call and request so following these procedures.

4.      Calculate the percentages for each position and enter them on the list for the on-coming shift's staffing needs. This allows equalization of opportunities on a daily basis.

5.      Work with the on-coming shift to determine Constant Staffing needs for the day.

6.      Initiate phone calls to those on the day's list until all vacant spots are filled.

7.      Complete paperwork including those called, who worked, who passed, and who refused.

8.      Have Alarm make the "Constant Staffing is complete" notification.

9.      Enter the names of those who are Constant Staffing on the station assignment board.

DEFINITIONS:
PASS-	When the list goes past the member for any reason.
REFUSAL-	Between 0600 and 0700 (or beyond 0700 when the announcement that Constant Staffing is not complete has been made), if a member whose name rotates up on the Constant Staffing List leaves their station, is not at the supplied phone, does not return a page within ten (10) minutes, or refuses the shift, they will receive a refusal.
JAIL-	Two refusals (on the same Constant Staffing List) in a six-month period, the member will forfeit their next Constant Staffing opportunity for that list.
72-HOUR-RULE	When the member will violate M.P. 103.07.
SPECIAL-OPS	South Shift Command may hire out of order to fill Special Operations needs. Members OPS outside the top 20 on the list will not receive a pass or refusal.
PARTIAL-	Any shift less than 24 hours. This can be on an Engine, Ladder, Brush, etc. If a partial is less than 8 hours, the member will not be charged and will remain on partial/brush list in order, unless the member accepts the partial, then calls back and turns it down.
HOLD-	Inability to Constant Staff (for reasons cited on pages 3 and 4). Member must be available to work next available opportunity.