Responders push back against borough hours cap

Mat-Su Borough firefighters and emergency responders are pushing back against a cap placed on their work hours, which limits them to 29.9 hours per week to avoid paying retirement and health insurance benefits to on-call responders.

Responders have created an online petition at Change.org to collect signatures in support of their effort to see more full-time fire and EMS positions funded in this year’s borough budget. The petition is online at: chn.ge/K7ZYCF.

Valley resident Ashley Cunnington also started the open Facebook group, Mat-Su Responders for Change, in support of local responders’ efforts.

Cunnington said responders have invited union reps and borough representatives to a meeting from 4 to 6 p.m., Jan. 18 at Station 6-1 at the corner of Lucille Street and Swanson Avenue in Wasilla.

Responders say the change to their hours already is impacting their response times and also could impact Insurance Services Organization ratings — and in turn insurance rates — in the Mat-Su Borough.