Winston-Salem Firefighters' Union Head told to Sit Down by Mayor

Tension between the city of Winston-Salem and the local firefighters union was evident during Monday night's city council meeting when Mayor Allen Joines cut off union president Ashton "Perry" Parrinello as Parrinello attempted to make a public comment.

Parrinello said he was there to oppose the city's plan to cut the sick and vacation time of firefighters. Under the new proposal, firefighters stand to go from 288 hours of sick time per year to 134 hours.

City manager Pat Pate said the reduction is an effort to bring benefits in line with other city employees.

The plan would also lessen accrued vacation time for firefighters in their first year from 240 hours to 112 hours.

But before the opposition leader could have his turn to speak on the issue, Joines closed the public comment period.

"We only allow 30 minutes, and the 30 minutes is up," said Joines.

Joines dismissed the union president again after a brief back-and-forth in which Parrinello insisted he put his name on the list of speakers.

"I heard you sir. Have a seat," Joines said forcefully.

Directly after the exchange, the council went into closed session, prompting some shouts from people in the audience.

"You won't even look the people in the eye," shouted an audience member near the back of the room.

"You're running away scared," shouted another.

Earlier in the meeting, Joines called Parrinello's name twice for public comment.

Parrinello said he didn't hear the mayor. He added that the applause of the crowd after a previous speaker had drowned him out.

'Kicked while we are already down'

Parinello did not speak but others did.

Most of the half hour public comment session was filled with speeches from or on behalf of Winston-Salem union firefighters and their opposition to the potential benefits cut.

Winston-Salem thinking about cutting firefighters' sick and vacation time in half

The city of Winston-Salem is mulling over a decision to cut its firefighters’ sick and vacation time by half.

In 2025, the organization's membership rapidly increased after a decision by city management to lower the daily number of available firefighters in Winston-Salem.

Winston-Salem firefighters' union packs city council, asks for city to stop staffing reduction

Winston-Salem city officials are staying the course on a reduction in minimum staffing levels for the fire department despite a significant protest from the local firefighters' union and many other residents at Monday night's city council meeting.

Last week, city staff announced a plan during a general government committee meeting to potentially cut sick and vacation time in half for firefighters.

“We feel like we’re being kicked while we’re already down,” Parrinello said on April 19. “Firefighters feel really undervalued and for good reason.”

City manager Pat Pate explained the initial decision to lower staffing levels was to protect from overspending. The fire department had already exhausted more than 75% of its overtime budget with several months left to go in the fiscal year, Pate said.

He also has defended the plan to cut benefits for firefighters. The choice would be part of an effort to fix the city's philosophy on how it competes for firefighters in the marketplace, Pate said.

Winston-Salem offers firefighters have roughly twice as many sick days, vacation and holiday leave than for other city employees.

Pate said that applies to many neighboring fire departments, as well.

Pay for entry level firefighters in Winston-Salem, without a four-year degree or military experience, is 4% to 7% lower than comparable fire departments.

Because salary is the primary factor in most job decisions, according to Pate, the city is not being as competitive as it could be when recruiting employees by prioritizing benefits.

Winston-Salem authorities have to “look at doing the things that keep us competitive but that are not in excess of what other people are doing,” Pate said.

Multiple speakers at the city's public comment session Monday night disagreed with Pate and urged the council not to make the cuts.

"We're going to have a retention problem," said Scott Blair, a retired Winston-Salem firefighter. "We have to become competitive."

Blair said other cities are taking action and Winston-Salem doesn't have longevity anymore.

Ryan Turner, the union's secretary, said most Winston-Salem firefighters have second jobs because of the city's lack of financial support.

"Many work another 8 to 12 hours after a 24-hour shift then return to duty sleep deprived and exhausted," Turner said.

"That's not just a morale issue, it's a safety issue," he added.

Scott Mullins, the president of the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina, called the cuts a retaliatory action after Parrinello and others spoke out in March against the city decision to lower staffing levels.

Speaking to council members Monday night, Mullins said the proposal was "unjust" and that it wouldn't be fair to give firefighters the same amount of time off as other city employees.

"Police officers in Winston-Salem work eight-hour shifts. Firefighters work 24-hour shifts," Mullins said.

"One major thing is just showing that you actually care about the firefighters," said Mullins after the meeting. "And showing them that you care is the total package. It's compensation. It's safety, and it's your benefits."

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Pate said that though the amount of time off for firefighters under the proposal would be cut, they would still have more time off than other city employees.

Firefighters who have spent 20 or more years with the city would go from 576 hours a year for vacation time to 269 hours.

Firefighters in their first year with the city would go from 240 of their annual hours for vacation time to 112 hours.

For sick time, firefighters would go from 288 hours a year to 134 hours, according to staff recommendations.

What's next?

Council members won't take any action on the plan to cut firefighter benefits until June, when the city decides on its upcoming budget.

City staff is also planning to look at salary adjustments in the upcoming budget process and will compare vacation and holiday accrual rates for all city employees in a May general government committee meeting.

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