The latest labor dispute between the city of New Orleans and its firefighters has come to a climax. First, nearly a third of all firefighters called out sick on Saturday. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the New Orleans firefighters union has filed a lawsuit against the city over canceled vacations.
About a third of New Orleans firefighters scheduled to work Saturday morning called out sick, causing several fire companies to only be able to man their trucks with two people.
47 firefighters of the roughly 140 scheduled called out, putting one pump truck and one ladder truck out of service as a result. Two heavy rescue units that would have responded to traffic accidents are out of service as well.
The acute manpower shortage came amid a labor battle between Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration and the New Orleans Fire Department.