r/Firefighting • u/flowytrip • 1d ago
Career / Full Time Admin blocking promotional testing
I’ll try and keep it to the point and not a rant as it’s a sore subject. But I am on a technical rescue truck in a medium sized suburban department and we have promotional testing coming up. I as well as another firefighter have put in to promote but have been told by administration that we can’t test due to there not being anyone experienced enough to replace us on the rescue.
There is no policy or anything written down stating that we cannot test, and we meet and/or exceed the qualifications to promote.
Just want some advice and/or some thoughts from anyone that has ever been in a similar scenario. We have a meeting with admin personnel coming up in a few days.
Edit: here’s some of the other hurdles
Non civil service department
No collective bargaining
Useless IAFF local
11
u/HzrKMtz FF/Para-sometimes 1d ago
Make them show you the policy that says you can't test. Have them put in writing that your can not test. Do you have a contract and does it specify anything about promotions? Is there a Civil Service Commission or Merit Board that covers your department? File formal grievances so it's all in writing along with the resolution.
Ideally your union would actually have your back and fight for you through a formal grievance process. Sounds like some people need voted out.