Just curious - how did everyone who took the Lt. test do? Has anyone gotten called yet? My Hub. is in the 400's - What do you think about the raise? I'm happy b/c it looks like the money will come right around when the baby is due... it will come in so handy.
MichelleW
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
My hubby had NO seniority so that REALLY hurt him I felt bad for him because he studied really hard for it.
The contract isn't that great but I guess it's better than nothing. What really disturbs me is they will be closing firehouses and putting residents at risk, not to mention fellow firefighters like my husband who works on a truck in Bed-Sty. Truckies go into building before the engine arrives with water.
It never ceases to amaze me how the NYPD and FDNY constantly get screwed.
joeslauren
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
NYPD wife here and needed to vent! It's ridiculous how these guys work on the frontlines of the most dangerpus thinsg everyday and they get NOTHING for it! It's disturbing! I am losing alot of respect for the city's administration. I am sorry, but it's difficult enough to deal with the fact that we are never guaranteed to spend weekends or holidays with them (dont know about you guys but my hubby works nights on a rotating schedule). I am just hoping that it gets better as the years go on. It's been almost 4 years and it's still somewhat depressing! How do you guys feel about their job?
MichelleW
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
Lauren,
Our guys have group #'s so we can see when they are working. Sometimes it's a day tour (9am-6pm) or a night tour (6pm-9am) or they may get a 24 partner and work 24 hours at a time.
There are plenty of missed holidays, uncontrollable cirumstances (catching a fire before your tour is almost over) etc.
I knew what I was in for before we got married but after 9/11 so many things have changed. You would think 'America's Heroes' would be compensated for what they do every day, but I think for the most part the fanfare and respect had dwindled.
It is so depressing to know that a probationary firefighter with 2 children makes 30,000 a year and can qualify for food stamps.. HOW PATHETIC
bearsbabe_113
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
I am neither a NYPD nor NYFD wife, but I agree with you both 150%!!! I think it's disgusting that these guys, who risk their lives everyday to save ours, don't get fairly compensated!!!! And I also think that this mayor is a big DH -- and I don't mean dear husband this time -- and is only going to bring this city right back down in the dumps like that other idiot we had years ago. I am not political in any shape or form, but this guy is not doing anything for the good of our city. How can you possibly close firehouses??? WTF??? Fix the budget some other place, like in the ridiculous amounts of money the city honchos get paid!!!
Ok, I'll step off my soap box now.
Junebride, Michelle and Lauren, thank your husbands for protecting us and keeping us safe and apologize that we have an a$$ for a mayor who won't pay them the proper compensation they so rightly deserve!!!
Samanthas Mom
Posted:
Member since
x
joeslauren
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
hey guys! well i am glad that i am not the only one who doesn't appreciate this city or this mayor in matter of fact! i too knew what i was getting into but it's just difficult to swallow sometimes. yeah, joe has his squad, and i know in advance at all times / days when he is off, but it still ****s! when i work 8-4 everyday and he works 4-12 everyday, it really stinks! for example - he is supposed to be working xmas eve AND xmas day!! we are hoping that he might get at least one of those days off because he does have some senority in his tour, but nothing is ever guaranteed. i know you guys must feel the same way. the only way he would get weekends off is if he worked in a special unit (quality of life, etc..) which he is not too fond of. he loves his job and i have to respect that i guess. i just really get annoyed with it sometimes for reasons that you said michelle - $30K - is it really worth it? tammy - he took the sgts test and is on a list. but he cant get promoted til his fifth year so that'll be at least another year if not more. i know i should be patient... he also just handed in his application to the nassau pd which he is soooo not happy about, but realizes that it just makes sense to have a backup plan just incase. sorry for the lenghty post.. just feels good to vent to people who share my pain! thanks bearsbabe - at least we know there are some people that still appreciate them! :)
sha11209
Posted:
Member since
Re: lauren
Another NYPD wife here and I just have to add how disgusted I am w/this city and this mayor. I was born and raised in Bklyn NY and still live there and believe it or not, I always proclaimed proudly where I was from and never had any intentions of living anywhere else....however, I have been so upset recently with the way my husband has been treated and regarded by this city/mayor. When we go out of NYC and people find out that he is a NYC cop they say that it's a sin that our city pays them so little for a job so big...how embarassing!! I too, knew what I was getting into when I married him, especially b/c my dad is also a retired NYC detective, but I never expected to feel so disrespected in my life. My husband's job is much more dangerous than your everyday job, and yes, he did choose this profession, however, he did not choose this treatment. As far as his hours go, he is on 12am-8am everyday and he is on a swing, 2 days off, then 3 days off and it rotates so his days off always change, we hit weekends maybe once a month. Holidays are pretty nonexistant with him. It's not easy on him and it's not easy on me either, but we manage. When we talk about having a family, we know there is no way that I can stay at home and raise our kids, we can't live on his salary alone. But I guess that's what you get risking your life everyday and being a 'hero' in NYC.
JennRenee
Posted:
Member since
Another NYPD wife
Sha11209, Very well said! I am truly proud to be the wife of one of NY's finest, but it is a **** shame that they have to risk life and limb for next to nothing in pay. I was so glad when the PBA settled their contract, because at least now they will get their retro $$. I can't wait for the SBA to do the same. Pat works very flexible hours with steady Fri/Sat off, but on his days off he works a second job. He likes us to be able to spend what we want without worrying, and he feels that the second job gives us that liberty. Do I like it? NO, but he's always worked 2 jobs as long as I've known him and even before that, and we all know it's impossible to change a man! I also will probably never get to be an at home mom, and I get sad about that, but on the plus side, I'll never have to put my children in daycare because Pat can be home with them. Every cloud has it's silver lining, right? We never get to spend holidays together, and truthfully I don't mind, because Pat volunteers to work so that men and women with families can be home with their children. I hope some day, when we have kids, people will be as kind to us.
dgtlsunshine
Posted:
Member since
Re: Another NYPD wife
I am not a FDNY wife but I am appalled to hear these things. I grew up in Brooklyn NY and there was a fire station on our block and I remember how we used to look up to them and when they were flying by my house we would always wave and tell them be safe. I can't believe you all are saying in a place with a high cost of living firefigters and cops are making 30,000 a year. I have heard it all.
joeslauren
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
it's truly upsetting. and jennrenee - you have the right attitude. i wish i could be more like you. :( unfortunately for now, i can't seem to get past the anger at times. maybe in time... they sooo deserve so much more. and then you hear about the possible cuts? c'mon now! let's get real! yeah, that makes plenty of sense...
Samanthas Mom
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
so ridiculous how all the mayors are bad and phony on TV, I work w/ a girl whose husband is a detective and she complains all the time, she said she always writes letters but knows it wont do anything!! it is shameful though
JennRenee
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
Lauren ~ Pat and I have been together for 8 years... with time, your attitude will soften too, I'm SURE! But I don't think you are wrong at ALL... If things about the NYPD make you angry, it is with good reason! Please feel free to vent away, we are all in the same boat.
LizD
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY Wives
NYPD - Soon to be wife-- 30 days from today. I grew up in an NYPD family, and I must say it has suc*** for a long time now. It seems with every mayor, there is a false hope that finally the NYPD & FDNY will get what they deserve. How many people would run into buildings on fire or into a bank robbery in progress. These people put their lives on the line everyday, and sometimes now, after 9/11, it is not only that they are cops and fireman, but are also in some ways soldiers. It is a different world out there. I can not imagine that they can even consider closing any fire houses or cutting cops after what has happened. It is like 'enough already'. Try to do something to make sure they are protected, which means more of them to watch each others backs, better training, and good saleries to keep those who have been there for a long time and have seen it all, around to train the new firemen and cops. My brother in law was a detective, scheduled to retire 10/01, pulled his papers to stay due to 9/11, then they cut all overtime, etc. He ended up resubmitting to retire because he would have lost too much money in his pension. I don't understand why they don't work with these guys. If they said to him 'guarantee us either 5 or 10 years, and we will take the best 2 of those to base the pension on', he would have stayed in a heart beat. He is only 42, and now working another job anyway. They are doing it to begin with (it certainly isn't for the money). I bet if they worked with them instead of against them, many more would stay past the 20 years. I know what I am in for as a cops wife, as I grew up a cops daughter. It is hard to accept at times, what they have to go through and how they get treated, but unfortunatly it comes with the territory. The best I can do is sympathise (sp) with him, and let him know how proud I am of him, and how much respect I have for him and what he does!!!
We should try to keep this thread going for all of us to keep in touch and help each other out with kind words, support , etc whenever needed.
Edited to say - sorry so long - this stuff just get my Irish blood boiling sometimes.
71903
Posted:
Member since
Re: NYPD Wives
July I will also join the NYPD wives. I am not looking foward to the woking weekends and holidays, but we will deal. I can only pray he gets suffolk when he takes the test in May, but we all know that is like winning the lotto. After 9/11 it has been nerve racking. The only reason he wasn't at the towers was because his father worked there. It is pretty crazy, but if I didn't lose my FFIL on 9/11 I would have lost my FH. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think about that. My FH partner is a female and I hate it. I wish he worked with a guy. With the ratio of guy to girl officers mine has to work with a girl. Don't get me wrong I have met her and I do like her we get along great. I don't have anything against her personally and I do trust my FH. I just don't like the idea of another woman spending so much time with him and being able to understand what he goes through, you know see what he sees. I could never fully understand what it is like to be a cop.
Thanks for letting me vent......
sha11209
Posted:
Member since
Re: NYPD Wives
I definately agree that we should keep this thread going. It's nice to have other women who knows what it's like being the wife of NYPD/FDNY, it's not like any other job out there. I agree w/the post about your husband having a female partner. My husband's partner is a man and he's great. I feel secure in knowing that he would never let anything happen to my husband...he would put his life on the line for my DH. I'm not saying that I don't respect female cops for what they do, but I would not be happy if my husband had a female partner. Not only for the reasons that you expressed(which make my blood boil to think about) but also b/c I don't feel a female could protect my husband as well as another man could. Also, my husband is a gentleman, if he had a female partner I would be afraid that he would put himself more at risk to protect her(thinking certain situations aren't safe for women.) This is just my opinion.... I'm happy to meet other women in the same situation as I am!! It's a relief
MichelleW
Posted:
Member since
FDNY/NYPD Wives
I agree we should keep this thread going. How do all you ladies feel about the 'groupies' that love cops and fireman..lol
sha11209
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY/NYPD Wives
Oh....you mean the 'Badge bunnies' Please, my blood pressure is rising just thinking about it!! I hate them! I'm just waiting for the day that I encounter one of them while I'm around...that will not be a pretty sight! Believe me, I love and trust my DH and I have no doubt that he feels the same, however, he works midnights and I know that those kinds of girls are lurking....especially on Fri. and Sat. nights!!!! UH!! Have I said I hated them yet!!
MichelleW
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY/NYPD Wives
Shannon,
You sound exactly like me. The St. Patrick's Day Parade is one of the worst times, because they are all in their Class A uniforms and the girls are out in full force. I trust my hubby TOTALLY but it pi$$e$ me off that so many women just want to be with them because of what they do.
GET A LIFE
NIHA
Posted:
Member since
Re: FDNY/NYPD Wives
I am shocked at hearing all of your stories!! It truly disturbs me that our society allows, firefighters, police, and teachers to make so little money for such important work. I am one of those people who thinks that the CEOs of corporations should not be making the kind of money that they do and give it to people whose work is more needed! JMO!
