Posted by Deb Karimoto on April 03, 2004 at 10:25:15:
Here are two recent articles in the Times Coastline Pilot, a community newspaper that serves Laguna Beach, that discuss a shortage of FT lifeguards and the disagreement between city officials and the lifeguard's association regarding the number of FT lifeguards and whether some PT lifeguards should be given benefits.
http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-me-lifeguards29mar29,1,707478,print.story?coll=la-newsaol-headlines
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/coastline/news/la-cpt-lifeguards2apr02,1,1810112.story?coll=la-tcn-coastline-news
Make sure to cut and paste the whole link. The first link is already a week old and may expire soon.
Is this issue important to you? The lifeguards feel they are experiencing too much turnover of part-timers who are wooed away by more enticing jobs because of their lack of benefits. This results in less experienced lifeguards who may be the ones attempting to save our life or that of a loved one. Some of the PT lifeguards who are asking for benefits are not seasonal workers, but work 12 months of the year.
Few of us actually live in Laguna Beach but most of us dive it at least periodically. This is an issue that could easily affect any one of us since lifeguards also protect swimmers and surfers. I am very interested to know your thoughts about this issue. Please contact me if you have an interest in this topic, especially if you live in Laguna Beach!
Thank you!
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Debbie Karimoto
www.orange.divebums.com
"a website for OC scuba divers."
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