Labor and Union Issues
N.J. officials reinstate fire chief after allegations of harassment, intimidation and discrimination
East Orange Fire Chief Andre Williams was suspended after prosecutors investigated allegations of harassment from two firefighter unions
Applicants in the Hialeah Fire Department seeking promotion to battalion chief or assistant chief of operations will retake the exam after allegations of cheating
The proposed legislation would bring concerns about minimum staffing levels into collective bargaining discussions
The city manager has also come under fire for opposing the union’s request to hire more firefighters and for supporting the closure of a firehouse
The department will continue to search for ways to increase the pool of potential firefighters
Chief Dan Sullivan had been on paid leave amid allegations that tolerated discrimination and spawned a good-old-boys environment that belittled minorities and women
Volunteer firefighters were recently cited by the police for interfering with traffic at an intersection during their fundraiser
Corrections department: “All it does is enlarge the pool of inmates we look at.... We still are not going to put an inmate in camp that has a violent attitude.”
The 13-year veteran firefighter says he was fired this summer because of his vocal support for the union
The six firefighters faced seven charges that involved four complaints of sexual harassment, two of sending threatening text messages and one of aggressive driving
The department could lose $12,000, the same amount they spent without board or fire chief approval to buy a replacement fire truck
Sources say a firefighter allegedly designed a website to help colleagues housing actual pediatric advanced life support exam questions
They were the last of several unfair labor practice complaints filed by the union; Chief Luis Santiago said he hopes to move forward from the dispute
Whether flying a Confederate flag from a fire truck is grounds for termination rests largely on a department’s conduct policies
Many fire agencies have sought additional funding, but the requests are turning to demands as they struggle with rising costs and declines in donations and volunteers
The town’s insurance company said code violations made it unsafe to house fire equipment; officials said it’s going to add 11 minutes to their response times
Several firefighters, current and retired, said there were many issues that led to the decision to disband the 134-year-old organization
PennDOT told the department to remove their signs advertising the haunted house because they could pose a safety risk on state roads
Firefighters wait outside the station for parking enforcement and beg not to be ticketed
The firefighter was suspended with pay while police look into an account he had control over by a 94-year-old city resident
The fire captain, who is running for city council, had information about his eligibility for promotion to deputy chief posted; if a city employee posted it, that person could face misdemeanor charges
City officials said two separate incidents caused the upheaval; it did not involve monetary irregularities or problems with firefighter or equipment certification
The annual fundraiser seeks to take advantage of an increase in traffic during a city fair; volunteer firefighters were asked to leave the area last year
Firefighter Timothy Gay says a new department policy requiring short hair discriminates against males
The majority of the council vowed to adopt a fire assessment next month that would save 11 firefighter jobs
One mayor said allowing the department to redevelop its property would help the agency keep response times low as the surrounding population increases
Fire officials acknowledged that they tapped hydrants to fill three private pools, but did so as part of training exercises
City officials admit new trucks are needed and said they plan to buy more; they did not say how fast or how many
The firefighter, who has stage 4 colon cancer, battled for two years to have his illness classified as work-related
With the silly season in full dizzying swing, here’s a look at some head scratchers, head slappers and some ways to keep your head screwed on straight
Assistant Chief Clyde Thomas was found unresponsive in a department issued vehicle in a parking lot; the incident is under investigation
The repair shop owner says the department is responsible for a storage fee, on top of the time spent checking over the rig
Several firefighters said morale is at an all-time low and that if something doesn’t change they will resign