With no light-duty option, pregnant Indian River County firefighter plans to keep working

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An eight-month pregnant firefighter-paramedic plans to continue working until she gives birth after county commissioners failed to initiate a light-duty policy.

At a commission meeting Tuesday, union representatives asked commissioners for a light-duty option for its pregnant firefighters, including Nicole Morris, a 10-year engineer and firefighter-paramedic with Indian River Fire Rescue.

Indian River is one of two Florida counties without a light-duty policy, said John O'Connor, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 2201 in Indian River County.

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Commissioners said they were unable to change the firefighters' contract outside of union negotiation sessions, but said they hoped Fire Chief John King would be flexible in helping Morris through the end of her pregnancy.

"I wish I could wave a wand and make this all be perfect," said Commission Chairman Peter O'Bryan.

In other areas of the state, including Broward County, light duty for firefighters could include working out of the office helping with reports and paperwork, or working in the logistics and supply room issuing supplies, said Broward County firefighters and paramedics union president Tory Fatjo, who spoke at Tuesday's meeting as the International Association of Firefighters district field service representative.

Light duty would be any alternative assignment to remove the firefighter from responding to a call or being on the fire truck, she said.

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Morris said she plans to continue working until her scheduled cesarean section May 13. Through shift exchanges with other firefighters and banked sick and vacation time, she has accumulated about 10 weeks of paid time off, which she says she will need after her daughter is born and she is recovering.

Morris asked commissioners what would happen if she has to take time off before the baby is born because she cannot do her job any longer.

"If I run out of time (off), who's to say I won't lose my job?" she said.

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O'Bryan assured Morris she would keep her job if that happens.

It's tough working while pregnant, Morris told commissioners. It's also dangerous to her unborn child, to her co-workers who are concerned about her well-being and to those she is supposed to be helping, she said.

"They're going to feel like they need to take care of me," she said. "At this point, it's becoming a major, major challenge."

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Union officials say the commission can issue memos of understanding between negotiation sessions to address unexpected issues. It happens in Broward County, where currently there are three pregnant firefighters working on light duty, said Fatjo.

"We dealt with this 25 years ago. It's a shame to hear this is still going on," Fatjo said.

While the commission failed to direct staff to work on a light-duty option, O'Connor said, the union did bring awareness to the county about the issue. He said he would continue trying for change.

In the meantime, "we have to do everything we can to make sure she is safe," he said.

Morris currently is the only pregnant firefighter out of the 14 female Indian River firefighters, according to O'Connor.