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Squeezed in Scranton: Family battles to survive

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    Mayor slashes city workers to minimum wage

  • Duration 3:57
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They risked their lives -- running into burning buildings on a daily basis but now firefighters in Scranton Pennsylvania.

Say they're the ones -- are getting -- To deal with the growing budget gap the mayor of Scranton.

Just slashed every public -- salary down to minimum wage that's forcing people like our next guest to live paycheck to paycheck and worry.

About their own livelihood.

Now firefighter and his wife.

Bob and Amy -- -- -- deceived you in this.

-- good morning good morning to Bob tell me how long you've been a firefighter in Scranton.

Thought in my intent here right now.

And I understand that the two of you both grew up in this town so this is near and dear to your heart -- like to.

Stay in your community but it's a little tough right now tell me what the change in your salary has been.

Since the mayor slashed all public workers to minimum wage.

Well it's it's approximately.

How 70%.

Reduction for us that that's what we're seeing right now.

So in the past you -- making 24 dollars an hour as a firefighter.

Now you're making minimum wage which is seven dollars and 25 cents how long has this been going on so far.

We've actually -- one page at minimum wage this far.

Amy I know that the two of you have two small babies at home and it was.

Tough to make ends meet with the regular salary that Bob was.

Was bringing home and I know that your working part time as well.

What is this going to do the family budget yes.

Well how I mean we we do that pretty sure they'll -- it as the cook at home I do you do a lot of -- -- You know we're still trying to make ends meet but ultimately it's going to come down to you know.

Paying the mortgage and buying food and if this continues at the math just doesn't add up where we're gonna have to choose what what can get paid for.

I want to take a look at the city of Scranton and the cash strapped situation there.

So the city has a 133000.

Dollars in cash but.

The CDOs 3.4.

Million dollars.

In -- -- -- and Bob I guess this is what started the situation where the mayor had then gone to City Council.

And asked them to approve a 78%.

Tax increase over three years for members of this community.

And the City Council most of them also Democrat the -- Democrats said no.

Is that correct.

Yeah that's correct what was happening is right now the city employees.

Are basically in the middle of of a fierce political stalemate and in both sides and are having there's a disagreement -- on how to.

Implement certain changes to bring this city forward so right now the employees are our car in the middle of that.

So here's a statement from that mayor Scranton it's unfortunate that the employees have to bear the brunt of this.

Because the City Council won't budge but I can't print money I can't spend money.

I don't have to -- -- I guess they're -- against that there has been that that is the mayor has been responsible for trying to keep the city in budget.

And many people say he has not done that in this tax increase.

Is is too much money the bottom line is you guys are paying the price of any.

What are you gonna do -- You know how we talk about it at great length and what were gonna do and and if there are any areas that we can cut back and as of right now we have a lot of great family and friends who have reached out to us.

And we're just gonna sit -- be hopeful that you know everybody will start to work together and that this will come to -- resolution fairly quickly.

And you in the meantime Bob you're still going to work and -- still -- and fires and you're still making sure the people of Scranton are safe and I'm sure they appreciate that.

Bob -- -- -- ten inch thanks for your time this morning.

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