Selfish firefighters

To assume only makes, well you know. A collective bargaining agreement (contract) covers everything from pay scales, health care contributions, equipment, training, drug and alcohol testing, and in the case of public safety even number of hours worked in a week. They currently work 42 hours (and no the 2 hrs are not overtime). The walk out of the firefighters union I am sure is being misrepresented. In my Union we can strike when we hit a stalemate. They can not. There is more to a contract than just one item. Obviouslly they want to have sober and safe employees, but drug and alcohol testing is only a piece of a big picture. I am sure that the Firefighters want a complete contract, seeing as how they were already in negotiations long before the whole drug testing became a hot issue to the city. Why didn't the city care about drug and alcohol testing language before now, could it be that they had already given up the farm to the cops? Lets not forget the cops got the Quinn Bill.. a yearly bonus of 20% of their base pay for life for a Masters Degree, and that factors into their pensions as well. It increses with every raise and promotion each cop gets. Now, if your co-worker got paid for drug testing in your workplace, lets say 20% of their base pay for life, might you consider it not fair for you to piss in a cup for free? Might that be motivation for the city to turn this around on the firefighters union, so peoples attention will be taken of the fact that the city has failed to implement ANY change that cost money. Mandatory drug testing cost money, training cost money, equipment, firetrucks, all cost money. The Union has stated on their own web site that they they have resorted to training on their own because the City has failed them. The city needs to get to the bargaining table and sign a contract. In lieu of being paid 20%, how about offering the firefighters mandatory training, and paying them to go off duty. This would prevent taking on duty personnel out their neighborhoods they are protecting, and would put a little extra money in their pockets, while promoting professional development for the members, and a better and safer fire department. Oh, wait that costs money, the city will never go for it.