NASHVILLE, Tenn.- First responders risk their lives on a day to day basis to protect the public, but now they say that safety net they rely on when they are hurt is in jeopardy.
The city of Nashville wants to reduce the 100% pay for firefighters, police officers and metro employees who get hurt while on duty. Metro's Finance Director has asked to cut the pay to around 66%, saying that disability income is not taxed so injured workers are actually making more than they would while working.
Many workers said while off duty because of injury, they miss out on overtime and other opportunities to supplement their families' income.
"It's not like we're trying to take or do something that is unfair to them. We're just trying to make a system fairer and more equitable really as much to the taxpayers as the employees," explained Richard Riebeling, Metro Finance Director.
President
of the FOP Robert Weaver said, "Employees who are injured in the line of
duty are not lottery winners, "and cutting the IOD pay may not cut into
base take-home pay, but it will cut into their income.
The Civil Service Commission will consider the suggestion from the mayor's office during the next few weeks. It can either accept the suggestions from the mayor's office or make their own recommendations.
