Philly firefighters get temporary stay on what they consider demotions of 14

The city of Philadelphia wants to take 14 firefighters down a notch using a recent ruling that upheld some management rights in the city’s favor.

But Common Pleas Judge Ellen Ceisler issued an order Tuesday evening putting a stop to the demotions until the court reviews and permits them to move forward, according to the firefighters union.

The firefighters were promoted after a court ordered the city to do so because the 14 were on a promotion list that was at the end of its life. Everett Gillison, Mayor Michael Nutter’s chief of staff, said the city was exercising management rights that were included in the contract.

“This is not an anti-firefighter issue, this is only about maintaining management rights, which is what we need to do this job the way we need to do it,” Gillison said/

Firefighters union head Joe Schulle said they consider the move to be demotions.

“The morale of the members of this department is historically low and every action that this administration takes seems to be an attempt to further lower morale,” he said Tuesday before Ceisler halted the move.