By Lou Michel
The Buffalo News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — More raw feelings are surfacing between the Buffalo firefighters union and the administration of Mayor Byron W. Brown as a large contingent of city firefighters prepares to head to Colorado Springs, Colo., to pay tribute to two firefighters who died last year.
Four escorts will accompany relatives of the two Buffalo firefighters to the ceremony. In addition, a four-member city honor guard will be present.
But the city is refusing to grant paid time off for three of the four firefighter escorts, who will look after the needs of the deceased firefighters’ family members during what is expected to be an emotional journey.
The city will provide paid leave for three of the city honor guard members the union requested.
“It’s disgraceful,” said Daniel M. Cunningham, president of Local 282, Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association. “The total salaries for the time off would be approximately $3,500. This cost is minimal compared to what Local 282 and its members are spending to honor our two fallen brothers.”
The union, he said, is spending $12,000 in airline tickets and hotel accommodations to pay for the firefighter escorts, honor guard members and relatives of Firefighter Jonathan S. Croom and Lt. Charles W. “Chip” McCarthy Jr., who died in the fire at the Super Speedy Deli on Genesee Street.
In addition, nearly 40 other firefighters will take vacation time and spend their own money to attend the Sept. 11 ceremony at the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Fallen Firefighters Memorial, which annually honors members who have died in the line of duty by etching their names onto the granite memorial.
Cunningham said he plans to expose the city’s insensitivity during a news conference today, just before a 6 p.m. fundraiser in City Tavern, 51 Chippewa St., to help defray the expenses being borne by Local 282,
But Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr. doesn’t see it that way.
“My job is to manage the department in such a way that we don’t give away the store. This is a poor city with many challenges. I based my decision on trying to be sensitive to the needs of the families and to the department,” he said.
He pointed out that while he denied three firefighter family escorts and a fourth honor guard member, he did approve paid time off under the “union business” clause for three members of Local 282’s executive board.
“That brings the total number of people we are giving paid time off to seven,” Whitfield said, suggesting that the executive board members serve as family escorts.
Union members, he said, had the opportunity to request using their “accrued time” to attend the event as escorts.
“As of yet, I have not received any requests,” he said.
Cunningham, however, said the four members denied paid time plan to take vacation time. He added that under union tradition and protocol, family members of the deceased firefighters are given the right to pick whom they want to serve as their firefighter escorts. Executive board members, he said, were not chosen.
The commissioner also pointed out that this is a union function and that two more memorial services, one in Maryland and one in Albany, are scheduled for early next month.
“Strangely, I have not had a request from Local 282 to participate in either of them,” Whitfield said, adding that he and some of his senior staff plan to attend those memorials.
After the funerals of Croom and McCarthy, who died Aug. 24, 2009, disagreement arose over funeral expenses the union said the city owed under the contract.
That ostensibly was worked out, though a union grievance remains pending against the city.
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