The recent article “Overtime Hours Rise at 911 Call Center” (Oct. 15) paints a picture of what the day-to-day operations look like at the Allegheny County 911 Center, a picture that is not accurate.
The top two issues are staffing and morale. Management claims that staffing is adequate. Staffing has been below budgeted numbers for years.
Currently, 40 percent of 911 dispatchers have less than two years of service and less than half have five years of service.
This has created a revolving door. Staff who are simply overwhelmed by the demands of the job, placing a greater burden on both new and senior workers.
Handling day to day emergencies on top of long hours that include forced overtime weekly, places a major burden on workers and their families. Mandatory overtime at our 911 centers places public safety at risk.
Due to a policy decision by county management, many 911 staff will no longer be paid for the overtime that they are forced to involuntarily work. They will be given “comp” time. This will impact their weekly paychecks and retirement security.
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald needs to investigate staffing and morale at the Allegheny County 911 Center and mandate the Chief of Emergency Services and his managers to make immediate improvements.
Tom Troyan
Sharpsburg
The writer is chief shop steward at Allegheny County 911 dispatch center and is the 911 committee chair for the SEIU Local 668 statewide executive board.
First Published: October 21, 2018, 4:00 a.m.
