(10/14/06) PERTH AMBOY ? A volunteer fire department welcomed the honor of a parade in Perth Amboy, while the paid corps protested against possible pink slips.
With the city?s 2007 budget yet to be passed, potential cuts have the paid firefighters worried there will soon be layoffs. Perth Amboy Fire Department members as well as union representatives organized the protest to coincide with a parade honoring the city?s volunteers. The city?s volunteer firefighters celebrated the 125th anniversary of the unit.
One woman who joined the protest said her son, a paid firefighter, currently serves in Iraq. She says she is very concerned about her son?s state if he were fired from his job upon his return.