Dispatcher Bill

Has anyone heard of the status regarding the dispatcher bill? I had heard it was on the floor to make it a 25 and our for us with special risk (lower than sworn, but more than civilian) , but have not heard anything. Is this still a possibility or in the near future? I have 24 years and can do the 30, but would love the option at 25.

What is so "high risk" in dispatching? I relize its not an easy job, but I don't think its high risk other than the fact of the "high risk" of getting fat and knowing everyones business.

What is so "high risk" in dispatching? I relize its not an easy job, but I don't think its high risk other than the fact of the "high risk" of getting fat and knowing everyones business.

There's gotta be 1 in every crowd, doesn't there?

This is to the ignorant guest with the ignorant reply..I'd like you to sit
behind the radio and have your life go from 0 to 60 in seconds. I had
high blood pressure (stress related) and no I'm not fat, when I retired after 25 years,my blood pressure went back to normal and my doctor took me off the meds. The 0 to 60 factor is an everyday occurance, car chase, foot chase shots fires, traffic stop that escalates, go ahead sit there and you do the job, I think all the dispatchers that you dis'd would like to see you handle it. alpha/hotel

bunch of cry babies, its really stressfull to sit in a nice airconditioned room in a comfy chair. Maybe the meds you were on was the cause of your problem. sam/boy

Post a new topic if you want to bash okay, lets get back to the question originally asked, as it effects me and many others I work with.

What is the status of the bill? Has there been any progress? Does anyone know?

You must be from mars, my friend. If you knew anything about dispatchers at all, you would know that having to sit on our butt 8, 12, and 16 hrs a day without getting up? Here are the physical problems only that we all seem to have: Eye problems, losing our vision from staring a the screen without breaking every few minutes; neck, shoulder and back problems; headaches; chest pains; leg, foot and ankle pain from using the foot pedals, toe cramping; charley horses in our calf muscles; not to even mention all the carpal tunnel syndrome from typing; and lastly (but surely the most important), we are all stressed to the max for a solid 8 hr minimum day, 5 days a week and more with mandatory overtime given to you with sometimes only one hour notice. Not to mention the stress of getting yelled at by the public, worrying if the drowning baby has made it after the nightly nightmares we have, and finally dealing with the short tempers of the road units, demanding supervisors, and not being able to get an extra day off for even a best friend's funeral without having to swap time. And we do not have the same outlets to get rid of the stress that road units have- no admin time-no time to just walk out and scream out the window. So tell me, you still think we do not deserve 25 and out under special risk class? All posters take note and respond!

You must be from mars, my friend. If you knew anything about dispatchers at all, you would know that having to sit on our butt 8, 12, and 16 hrs a day without getting up? Here are the physical problems only that we all seem to have: Eye problems, losing our vision from staring a the screen without breaking every few minutes; neck, shoulder and back problems; headaches; chest pains; leg, foot and ankle pain from using the foot pedals, toe cramping; charley horses in our calf muscles; not to even mention all the carpal tunnel syndrome from typing; and lastly (but surely the most important), we are all stressed to the max for a solid 8 hr minimum day, 5 days a week and more with mandatory overtime given to you with sometimes only one hour notice. Not to mention the stress of getting yelled at by the public, worrying if the drowning baby has made it after the nightly nightmares we have, and finally dealing with the short tempers of the road units, demanding supervisors, and not being able to get an extra day off for even a best friend's funeral without having to swap time. And we do not have the same outlets to get rid of the stress that road units have- no admin time-no time to just walk out and scream out the window. So tell me, you still think we do not deserve 25 and out under special risk class? All posters take note and respond!

All those things you listed above are not high risk, its called a crappy job. High risk would be if you were flying a plane, going to war, being a cop, working in a mine, jobs that have dangerous probabilities and a chance of loosing your life on a daily basis. The last I checked, I don't think you can get killed by talking on the phone or staring at a computer screen unless the person next to you smashes your head in the computer screen. Keep up the hard work though ladies because the job you do is important but just not high risk.

Dispatching is NOT a crappy job,it's a profession. We choose to go into it
as a career,just as you chose your profession. So guest, I guess you don't think an Air Traffic Contoller is not high risk too? A dispatcher is much like an Air Traffic Controller, only we are the ground control. The dispatcher always has to take control of the air and keep a level tone in his/her voice when a crisis arises. This job is not for everyone, only a select few "all women are not created equal, the finest become dispatchers".
And guest if you are a cop, next time you're in a jam,THINK about who is on the other side of the radio send you assistance, and keeping the air calm in the midst of the storm.

Dispatching is NOT a crappy job,it's a profession. We choose to go into it
as a career,just as you chose your profession. So guest, I guess you don't think an Air Traffic Contoller is not high risk too? A dispatcher is much like an Air Traffic Controller, only we are the ground control. The dispatcher always has to take control of the air and keep a level tone in his/her voice when a crisis arises. This job is not for everyone, only a select few "all women are not created equal, the finest become dispatchers".
And guest if you are a cop, next time you're in a jam,THINK about who is on the other side of the radio send you assistance, and keeping the air calm in the midst of the storm.

Interesting......our agency hired a retired Air Traffic Controller, and she
couldn't handle the job. She said it was too stressful and left before finishing her training..............Imagine that!!