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by FERNANDA SANTOS
Fewer firefighters will man 49 FDNY engine companies because of a contractual clause that lets the city cut staffing when sick days rise.
The Fire Department can cut the number of five-person engine houses to 11 when the annual absence rate goes beyond 7.5%, according to a 1996 agreement between the department and the firefighters' union.
So far this year, the FDNY has logged a 7.53% absentee rate, a spokesman said. If it goes back below 7.5%, the fifth person would be reinstated.
The reduction kicked in yesterday in 49 of the 60 engine companies staffed by five firefighters - saving the city $1.4 million a month.
The city has 197 engine companies; 137 of them are always staffed by four firefighters.
"The Fire Department is not cutting any services whatsoever," Mayor Bloomberg told reporters. "That's part of the agreement with the union."
Jim Slevin, vice president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said the union does not support the agreement, which was signed by its previous leadership. He blamed the high rate of sick leave, in part, on the inexperience of firefighters who joined the FDNY after the terror attacks depleted their ranks.
"They just don't have the experience to do the job properly, so they get hurt more often," Slavin said, adding that many firefighters have had the flu.
With Maggie Haberman
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