August 16, 2006
Union: Suspended firefighters told 'the truth'
5 disciplined for speaking to reporters about Fire Department problems
By Chris Joyner
[email protected]
SUSPENDED
These firefighters were suspended Monday with pay. All five had spoken to the news media last month regarding problems in the Fire Department.
Capt. Brandon Falcon, president of the Jackson Firefighters Association
Capt. Patrick Armon
Capt. Reubin Ray
Lt. Vernon Gee
Capt. Sidney Johnson, former candidate for fire chief
The Jackson Firefighters union membership spoke out Tuesday night in support of five firefighters suspended with pay on Monday after they talked to local news media about problems within the Jackson Fire Department.
"The suspensions make no sense to me because what the people said was and is the truth," said Jackson Firefighters Association member Chris Garner.
The union meeting was closed to the public, but officials said the consensus was in support of the suspended firefighters.
Ward 6 City Councilman Marshand Crisler met with some of the suspended firefighters Tuesday morning.
Crisler said the department suffers from a lack of permanent leadership. Todd Chandler was named interim fire chief more than a year ago.
Chandler's office referred comment to city spokesman Tyrone Lewis. Lewis would not comment, citing an ongoing personnel investigation.
Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he is working to get to the bottom of the problems within the Fire Department - problems he said have their roots in previous administrations.
"This has been going on for 25 years," he said.
"I've asked (City Council President) Ben Allen for his help and his guidance because I just don't understand it."
Capt. Brandon Falcon, president of the union local, was among the firefighters suspended. Also suspended were Capts. Sidney Johnson, a candidate for fire chief last fall, Patrick Armon and Reubin Ray and Lt. Vernon Gee.
All five firefighters had spoken to the local media last month before Chandler's confirmation hearing and complained that budget cuts Chandler had made had resulted in manpower shortages and a scarcity of supplies.
Melton cancelled Chandler's confirmation hearing when it became clear he did not have the votes required to confirm him.
Last week, the five firefighters received letters from Assistant Fire Chief Tony Davis ordering them to provide documents supporting their statements or face disciplinary procedures.
Melton said the suspended firefighters "disrespected" him by not bringing their complaints to him before going to the media.
However, Falcon said former union chief Chandra Hardaway and Lt. Travis Frazier, union secretary, told him six months ago that the mayor would not see him.
Falcon said the pair visited him on Feb. 26 after he had made numerous requests to speak with the mayor after defeating Hardaway in a November election to head the local union chapter last November.
"I have not contacted him (Melton) since the 26th since he told me he would not meet with me," Falcon said.
Robert Shaffer, president of the Mississippi AFL-CIO, said the pair made a similar visit to his office around the same time to deliver the same message.
"They just basically said the mayor wasn't going to meet him (Falcon) because he was mad at him. ... I just told them it wasn't my business," Shaffer said.
Melton said Tuesday he made no such order.
"There are a lot of people going around saying, 'Frank said,'" he said.
Hardaway disputed the accounts of the meetings by Shaffer and Falcon.
Melton said he would be glad to meet with the firefighters "as long as (they) are willing to do the right thing."
These firefighters were suspended Monday with pay. All five had spoken to the news media last month regarding problems in the Fire Department.
I would bet this falls under the IAFF's Guardian Policy which defends Union leaders First Amendment and protected rights as union officers.
Union: Suspended firefighters told 'the truth'
5 disciplined for speaking to reporters about Fire Department problems
By Chris Joyner
[email protected]
SUSPENDED
These firefighters were suspended Monday with pay. All five had spoken to the news media last month regarding problems in the Fire Department.
Capt. Brandon Falcon, president of the Jackson Firefighters Association
Capt. Patrick Armon
Capt. Reubin Ray
Lt. Vernon Gee
Capt. Sidney Johnson, former candidate for fire chief
The Jackson Firefighters union membership spoke out Tuesday night in support of five firefighters suspended with pay on Monday after they talked to local news media about problems within the Jackson Fire Department.
"The suspensions make no sense to me because what the people said was and is the truth," said Jackson Firefighters Association member Chris Garner.
The union meeting was closed to the public, but officials said the consensus was in support of the suspended firefighters.
Ward 6 City Councilman Marshand Crisler met with some of the suspended firefighters Tuesday morning.
Crisler said the department suffers from a lack of permanent leadership. Todd Chandler was named interim fire chief more than a year ago.
Chandler's office referred comment to city spokesman Tyrone Lewis. Lewis would not comment, citing an ongoing personnel investigation.
Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said he is working to get to the bottom of the problems within the Fire Department - problems he said have their roots in previous administrations.
"This has been going on for 25 years," he said.
"I've asked (City Council President) Ben Allen for his help and his guidance because I just don't understand it."
Capt. Brandon Falcon, president of the union local, was among the firefighters suspended. Also suspended were Capts. Sidney Johnson, a candidate for fire chief last fall, Patrick Armon and Reubin Ray and Lt. Vernon Gee.
All five firefighters had spoken to the local media last month before Chandler's confirmation hearing and complained that budget cuts Chandler had made had resulted in manpower shortages and a scarcity of supplies.
Melton cancelled Chandler's confirmation hearing when it became clear he did not have the votes required to confirm him.
Last week, the five firefighters received letters from Assistant Fire Chief Tony Davis ordering them to provide documents supporting their statements or face disciplinary procedures.
Melton said the suspended firefighters "disrespected" him by not bringing their complaints to him before going to the media.
However, Falcon said former union chief Chandra Hardaway and Lt. Travis Frazier, union secretary, told him six months ago that the mayor would not see him.
Falcon said the pair visited him on Feb. 26 after he had made numerous requests to speak with the mayor after defeating Hardaway in a November election to head the local union chapter last November.
"I have not contacted him (Melton) since the 26th since he told me he would not meet with me," Falcon said.
Robert Shaffer, president of the Mississippi AFL-CIO, said the pair made a similar visit to his office around the same time to deliver the same message.
"They just basically said the mayor wasn't going to meet him (Falcon) because he was mad at him. ... I just told them it wasn't my business," Shaffer said.
Melton said Tuesday he made no such order.
"There are a lot of people going around saying, 'Frank said,'" he said.
Hardaway disputed the accounts of the meetings by Shaffer and Falcon.
Melton said he would be glad to meet with the firefighters "as long as (they) are willing to do the right thing."
These firefighters were suspended Monday with pay. All five had spoken to the news media last month regarding problems in the Fire Department.
I would bet this falls under the IAFF's Guardian Policy which defends Union leaders First Amendment and protected rights as union officers.
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