Three city firefighters sue for overtime pay

August 14, 2012 12:11 am

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Three Pittsburgh firefighters filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking overtime pay for themselves and others at their ranks.

In a complaint written by attorney Joshua Bloom, Capt. Edmund Farley, Battalion Chief Robert Cox and Deputy Chief Harry Scherer claim that the city has not paid them overtime when they have worked more than 212 hours in a 28-day period for at least the past three years.

The three request back pay for unpaid overtime they have worked since July 1, 2009, and a court order guaranteeing that they receive time-and-a-half for any overtime they work in the future.

The three argue that they and others in their positions are due overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act revisions that went into effect in 2004. Those revisions, they said, allowed firefighters to receive overtime pay when their primary duty was fighting fires and responding to crime scenes, as opposed to hiring and firing employees.

A city spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night.


First Published August 14, 2012 12:00 am

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