They work 24 on 48 off with all having full time jobs on the side where they make as much or more than they do at the public sector trough.
I agree that the private sector folks make a ton more than the civil servants and you seem to agree too as your sentence above says. The firefighters I know work 24 on and 24 off. Sure they get good bennies which I am glad. The volunteer guys go in when needed (after the fire has started). You may not like firefighters but I sure as heck do. In fact, I wish they would double their pay. I think they are sorely underpaid for what they do. What were YOU doing 9/11 when they were running up into the building to save people? Don’t bother answering, I already know.
I was doing what 99.99% of all the firefighters in the U.S. where doing. I was watching it on TV.
Your ignorance is incredible. MOST union firefighters make FAR MORE than private sector workers make. Particularly those with as little education as a firefighter has. Remember a GED IS required to become a firefighter! Yet, they receive average compensation in my city of over $65,000. per year and their expense to the city is over $120,000. per year with retirement and benefits.
I am sorry that you feel the need to kiss the ass of firefighters, I do not. I know way too many that are little more than users who take their public sector jobs for granted and feel as if they are somehow entitled to ever increasing incomes and benefits regardless of the circumstances of city budgets and citizens finances.
They also feel no compunction at stealing work from tradesmen who do not have the benefit of government health insurance and pensions allowing for them to undercut their prices and pay. They also feel entitled in trading shifts and overtime padding. Any guess at how many spend the last several years of their careers on disability, often caused by work done OUTSIDE of the fire services, like falling off the back of a cement truck? The stories of firefighters dragging themselves into the firehouse after getting hurt at their side job in order to qualify for Workers Comp and Disability are legion.
Like I said, most are fine people, but MANY are not. Regardless, they are as a whole no more special than your average coal miner, lineman for the electric company, or cellular tower worker. All of whom make as much, or considerably less than a union Firefighter, without the need to be constantly looked upon as heroes.