I'll point out that in exchange for that money - they had to all become certified firefighters, AND spend 2 1/2 weeks a year in training to boot (100 hours) - for something that LFR wouldn't even let them do, since LFR never considered them to be REAL firefighters. It was just a scam on the state to make it look like they got a raise. It would be more cost effective (less OT to cover the folks in training, etc.) to just raise their salaries. No, they should not have lost a dime by that process.
I'll point out that in exchange for that money - they had to all become certified firefighters, AND spend 2 1/2 weeks a year in training to boot (100 hours) - for something that LFR wouldn't even let them do, since LFR never considered them to be REAL firefighters. It was just a scam on the state to make it look like they got a raise. It would be more cost effective (less OT to cover the folks in training, etc.) to just raise their salaries. No, they should not have lost a dime by that process.