Lansing, MI— Hundreds of Michigan firefighters gathered at the State Capitol on Tuesday to advocate for what they call “safer staffing.” The rally aimed to bring attention to a bill that has been stalled in the state House for over a year, urging lawmakers to take action before it expires at the end of the month.
The proposed legislation seeks to allow staffing discussions to be included in collective bargaining agreements, addressing critical staffing shortages that firefighters argue impact public safety. Supporters of the bill stress that urgent action is needed to tackle these shortages, which could worsen without the proposed changes.
“This issue is real. It is urgent, and the time to act and address this public safety issue is right now,” said State Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) during the rally. Hertel has been a vocal supporter of the bill, emphasizing the importance of resolving staffing issues before the window for legislative action closes.
According to the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union, the state currently has only 50 firefighters per 100,000 people. By comparison, neighboring states like Indiana and Ohio have double the number of firefighters, highlighting what they see as a critical shortage in Michigan.
Mark Sanders, 8th District Vice President of the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union, explained how even a single additional firefighter can make a significant difference. “One more person exponentially creates a positive impact on the operations of what we do and how we do it,” Sanders said.
Critics of the bill, however, argue that requiring discussions on staffing levels during collective bargaining could place an unnecessary burden on local governments. They also note that the bill would only apply to fire departments that are able to collectively bargain, leaving out rural departments that rely on volunteer or part-time staff.
In response to these concerns, State Senator Veronica Klinefelt introduced Senate Bill 1167, which is intended to serve as a companion to the stalled House bill. Klinefelt’s legislation aims to address similar issues, but the future of both bills remains uncertain as the legislative session nears its end.
Firefighters and their supporters are calling on lawmakers to prioritize public safety and take swift action to resolve the staffing challenges facing fire departments across the state. Without legislative intervention, they warn that Michigan’s fire services could face even greater challenges in the future.
