By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

"stretched thinner and thinner"

Red Deer standing by emergency services leadership despite discontent within union

Mar 11, 2025 | 5:17 PM

The union representing Red Deer firefighters says a lack of listening by the municipality led to a recent vote, wherein 80 per cent of their membership chose to express non-confidence in the city’s chief firefighter and his deputies.

The vote was not legally binding; however, IAFF Local 1190 president, Stephen Belich, says the fact that the vote was member-initiated, over 170 people voted, and that 99 per cent who did so, agreed in the non-confidence, sends a message.

The impetus for said vote, as Belich explained to rdnewsNOW on Tuesday, is simple.

“It is important to note that the membership’s goal in all of this is to continue to provide world class fire and EMS service to the citizens of Red Deer. In the end, that’s what we were hired to do, protect the public,” Belich began.

“We want to make sure that our members have long, mentally and physically healthy careers. With recent changes in staffing, we just couldn’t sit back any longer. As a membership and group, we felt we had to speak up, that we weren’t being heard.”

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The issues particularly relate to what’s been going on with Fire Hall #2, in north Red Deer — something rdnewsNOW has reported on multiple times, most recently in February.

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READ MORE

• Red Deer firefighters share growing concern around staffing requirements
• Red Deer emergency services chief & association address Station #2 staffing challenges

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During the most recent budget deliberations by Red Deer city council, there was approved a $600,000 reduction in overtime spending within Emergency Services. This was, as the city notes, one of numerous cost adjustments made to address an $18 million shortfall in the municipal budget

“We believe Engine Two running with less than four firefighters puts community at risk and puts our firefighters at risk. That’s been our main talking point and we can’t sit back any longer,” said Belich.

“We’ve tried to reach out through different channels with administration to give our perspective on the staffing model, and what effects it’d have on public safety. We all know the city’s getting bigger and bigger, and we’re all getting stretched thinner and thinner.”

During its regular meeting on Monday this week, Red Deer city council reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of Red Deer Emergency Services, which led to a further statement from the city late Monday night.

The city and council say they have full confidence in the likes of Chief Ken McMullen, as well as deputy chiefs Tyler Pelke, Curtis Schaefer, and Chris Kearns, and others.

“Public safety remains our highest priority,” said Mayor Ken Johnston.

“City council has every confidence in the decisions being made by Chief McMullen and our Emergency Services leadership team. They are balancing operational needs with financial responsibility while ensuring Red Deer remains well protected. This resolution sends a clear message that we stand behind our leadership team and the work they do every day to serve our city.”

The city clarifies that the union has not formally notified them of its vote.

In addition to not being legally binding, the city notes these types of votes are often held during times of change or contract negotiations to express dissatisfaction.

They also do not indicate a reduction in public safety, with the city assuring that RDES continues to meet or exceed all standards.

Per the city: In 2024, Red Deer Emergency Services had the highest per capita overtime costs in Alberta, exceeding $3.2 million.

“Our Emergency Services leadership team has and continues to make responsible, data-driven decisions that balance operational needs with our current financial realities,” said City Manager Tara Lodewyk. “Council’s resolution reinforces that we have the right team in place, making difficult decisions that are right for our community as we work to ensure Red Deer continues to be protected today and going forward.”

Labour Relations Management Meetings are in place between the city and local, providing a structured forum for ongoing, solution-focused discussions.

The city adds that Chief McMullen and the Emergency Services leadership team continue to maintain an open-door policy, encouraging employees to connect directly with leadership to share concerns and feedback.

Union president Belich says the door has seemed more accessible and open the last couple weeks, but says it’s going to take consistency to regain the membership’s confidence.

“We always try to make sure when we bring concerns forward, that we have solutions,” Belich added.

“Remember, public safety is why we all got into this. In the last couple weeks as all this has been happening, there was an email about an open door policy; but sometimes, HR is in the room, for example, and that doesn’t feel very ‘open door.’ When you’re talking about ‘open door,’ what’s the definition? Our members just want to be heard.”

Belich also noted the local’s parent organization — the Washington, D.C.-based International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) — is taking note of what’s happening in Red Deer, particularly with the two-member situation at Fire Hall #2, and how that relates to the NFPA 1710 standard.

As for a long-term solution to that particular dilemma, Belich believes all parties involved need to sit down and formulate a five-year plan for hiring.

“It’s going to take some years, but we need to start planning and organizing now,” he said. “That’s the end-game.”