Scranton officials say firefighters refusing OT

SCRANTON - City officials say firefighters are refusing to work overtime shifts, leading to fewer firehouses being open.

Members of the Scranton Fire Department and their supporters have been rallying against the closing of firehouses, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported. City officials contend the firefighters' refusal to work overtime shifts en masse has resulted in having just three stations and four companies open on some days.

Mayor Chris Doherty said firefighters did not refuse overtime before the layoff of eight firefighters in August. Doherty's budget for 2012 proposes laying off 29 more firefighters, bringing the number of firefighters to 100.

Dave Gervasi, president of Local 60 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, was not immediately available for comment. - AP