By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Firefighters Union says it will not participate in the Western New York Firefighters Day sponsored by the Buffalo News. And now the News is postponing the event. The union says it is a matter of solidarity.
Western New York Firefighters Day was scheduled to take place June 2nd. It was a first of its kind event to help raise funds for firefighters in the region, including the Buffalo Fire Department. But Buffalo Professional Firefighters Union President Joe Foely says his union will not participate.
The event was to be similar to the Kids Day, in which the News would supply complimentary newspapers to be sold for donations. But Foley says after learning that more than 30 news workers in the press operations are losing their jobs, his union could not support the News sponsored event.
"I could not in good conscience support anything that was going to result in the layoff of workers," Foley said. "Those people have families. They have responsibilities in the community."
The News says it has postponed Western New York Firefighters Day. And according to the newspaper, it will delay the event until the city firefighters recommit.
The day was designed to help Buffalo firefighters raise some needed funds to purchase equipment, such as thermal imagers. But Foley says the city should come up with the money since the equipment is so vital to the department. However, he says other efforts will be made to try and raise the funds.