Fire union invites dialogueRiley willing but says options are limited By Ron Menchaca (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Firefighter CoverageIn our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.The city of Charleston is spending millions of dollars to improve its Fire Department, but so far city officials have been slow to act on one recommendation that wouldn't cost a dime. A panel of experts hired by the city after last year's deadly Sofa Super Store blaze recommended as a top priority that the department begin a dialogue with groups such as the local union representing about half of the city's 250 firefighters. So far, both sides have expressed a willingness to meet but have done little to speed up the slow-motion courtship. Mutual distrust and hard feelings still linger from the June 18 fire that killed nine city firefighters. Three of the fallen belonged to the union. Roger Yow, a former Fire Department captain and head of the local union, recently invited Charleston Mayor Joe Riley to meet with a group of local and regional union leaders. "Our only goal is to resolve some of the issues that have been a wedge between the City and our organization for so long," Yow wrote in an e-mail to Riley. The union, which has backed Riley's opponents in past mayoral races, prefers to meet first with Riley because the organization has had a rocky relationship with Fire Chief Rusty Thomas. "The chief hasn't worked with us in the past," Yow said. "It's almost too late." Riley said he and Thomas would be glad to meet with Yow and his entourage. "I have never turned down an opportunity to sit down and meet with anyone." But the mayor said he would not consider ceding the group a formal role in discussions because that would run counter to the state's labor laws. South Carolina, a right-to-work state, is one of about a dozen states that prohibits governments from engaging in collective bargaining with public-employee unions. While the law does not bar city leaders from meeting with the union to discuss firefighters' concerns, city leaders have long cited such rules as limiting the discussions they can have with union representatives. City officials are concerned enough about the issue that they asked to have the word "union" removed from a draft of the expert panel's report before it's public release in October. The union, which has seen a slight increase in its membership rolls since the sofa store fire, recently invited its national leadership to Charleston, including Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Schaitberger said the union prefers to work with the city but will not hesitate to use its financial, political and legal resources to bring about changes its members want to see in the Fire Department. Yow said he recognizes the city's hands are tied to a certain degree, but that opening an ongoing dialogue would not run afoul of any state laws. "There's no law that says they can't sit down with us. We've never asked them to bargain with us, but we have asked to have a place at the table." While South Carolina is one of the least unionized states in the country, the firefighting profession is synonymous with organized labor. Charleston is not alone in dealing with this dichotomy. Over the years, firefighters in Myrtle Beach, Florence, Columbia and other areas have tussled with fire chiefs and elected leaders over a variety of issues. Some firefighters point to the Columbia Fire Department as an example of how union firefighters can find common ground with department and city leaders. Columbia Fire Chief Bradley Anderson said he has a standing lunch date with the leaders of two Columbia area firefighters' unions, and the presidents have his cell phone number. "They are cooperative and attuned to the needs of firefighters and let us know if there are issues brewing. I'd say we do have a good relationship." Anderson said right-to-work laws should not and do not stand in the way of making sure the needs and concerns of all of his firefighters are addressed. "There's no collective bargaining, so we can't strike any kind of deal. Both of the organizations' goals are very much what the department's goals are." Capt. Mike Cosola, a 10-year veteran of the Columbia Fire Department, has headed the local firefighters union for about a year. The local union represents about half of the department's 425 firefighters. "I take a lot of heat off the chief because firefighters call me to complain before they call him," Cosola said. "If Riley and Thomas would sit down and listen to the union, their headaches would pretty much go away." Greenville Fire Chief W.T. McDowell Jr. said he already enjoys a healthy relationship with his rank-and-file, even though he has zero interaction with that city's local firefighters union. He involves firefighters in decision-making through committees, similar to the approach Charleston is experimenting with. "My approach is this: I want to hear from all the firefighters, not just the ones that are union members," said McDowell, whose department has 132 firefighters. Columbia's Cosola said it is in the best interest of city and fire leaders to voluntarily sit down with unions before they are forced to recognize them under legislation pending in Congress. The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act would establish collective bargaining rights for public safety workers, including firefighters and police officers, employed by states and local governments. The legislation cleared the U.S. House in July and is sitting in a Senate committee. U.S. Rep Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., supported the collective bargaining measure in the House. A former member of the South Carolina Education Association, Clyburn said he thinks unions provide a voice and needed support for workers. "I believe people ought to be able to sit down and negotiate conditions." U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., recently helped scuttle an effort to move the measure forward. The measure would hamstring state and local governments in their attempts to manage public safety operations, he said. "Washington shouldn't force a one-size-fits-all approach to labor-management relations. States have unique needs and need freedom to make their own public safety decisions to best serve and protect their state." Riley also opposes the legislation, saying that all public employees should be treated the same. Public policy should be uniform, he said. "I don't know that you could reasonably differentiate one group of employees from another." Reach Ron Menchaca at rmenchaca@postandcourier.com or 937-5724. Reach Glenn Smith at gsmith@postandcourier.com or 937-5556. |
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Comments
This article has 13 comment(s)
Posted by Harpo on April 6, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Riley's problem is that to maintain the state's ight-to-
work status (a corrupt system whereby employees are
valueless) he can't be seen to discuss anything with a
union. Make no mistake about one thing: Riley is a
right-to-work guy right to his bones and he's squarely
in the pockets of big business as well.
Moreover, using the right-to-work argument allows him to
rebuff overtures by the firefighter's unions on those grounds.
He can wave the right-to-work banner and refuse
to sit down and be told that his buddy Rusty Thomas is
incompetent and should be fired.
This aging mayor needs to be removed and his buddy Rusty
Thomas needs to be fired as soon as possible. We don't
need to set any more stupid "Strom Thurmond" records in
politics; we've already let the rest of the country know
how stupid and stagnant South Carolina politics is.
Posted by BillytheKid on April 6, 2008 at 2:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo, sometimes we are on the same page.
Posted by Paul on April 6, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We had a chance to vote him out but didn't. Too many ran against him to dilute the opposition. We need to find a worthy opponent to stand up to the ingrained good old boy system.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 6, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sitting down with any group and listening to them would, in joe's mind, mean giving up some control. He'll never do that.
I'm surprised at the comments against right to work though. Not saying that they are wrong, as I've never really paid that much attention to the pros or cons about right to work. I do know that I'd never want to be forced to work in a union.
Posted by TinaR on April 6, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Direct form the article
"Riley said he and Thomas would be glad to meet with Yow and his entourage. "I have never turned down an opportunity to sit down and meet with anyone."
That does not mean that he is unwilling to sit down with them, to me it actually sounds like he is willing to. However, I am blond, and well, I guess I do not read between the lines as well as the rest of you folk. You can blame alot of things on Chief Thomas or Mayor Riley but unless you take off your hate filled glasses, you are never going to glean the truth about something.
Hating Cheif Thomas or Mayor Riley is never going to get you anywhere and quite frankly if Chief Thomas were to resign tomorrow, I think you all would then fuss about that and how a new chief is not ready to step in a second after he stepped down. You can say alot of bad things about Mayor Riley but they will over shadow the history of good that he has done, and were he it resign tomorrow as well, all you haters would then be complaining because then you would not have anyone to blame.
Were any of you to walk a mile in either of their shoes, I am not so sure you would be so filled with hate in your comments but maybe a little understading or compassion.
Posted by firefightersforthetruth on April 6, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Understanding and compassion are wonderful things, also truth and honor are wonderful things. So far as I can tell the Mayor and Chief are yet to be truthful and honorable about the most basic fact of the SSS fire. As of last week the Chief suspended a firefighter for not wearing a SCBA, that man took full responsibility for his action like a proud honorable man. Why is it Your fine Chief has yet to step up and say he made mistakes at the SSS fire? Why will Joe not allow his city council to have a part in the investigation of the fire? As of the last city council meeting Rev. Jimmy Gallant ask to speak to the Routley panel about some of their findings. The Mayors reply was they have not and will not be in town again until the report is finished. This my dear friend was a direct lie to Mr. Gallant, they were here just that week to help pick a new training chief. If the Mayor does not trust his boy Rusty to pick a training chief, What does he trust him to do?
People hate is a big word to throw out! If you just look at the facts and truths that have been brought forward since the fire and will surly be added to in the near future, there lies the answers. STOP THE LIES, BE HONORABLE, ADMIT YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES. TAKE EVERY STEP TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE ALL HEAL AND MOVE FORWARD.
GOD BLESS THE NINE BROTHERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON 6-18-07.
Posted by poorrichard2 on April 6, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Government offical's first dutie is to the people not to its self! Let us bring all parties together in the intrest of public safety and the safety of our fire fighters. It is time to change old, out dated ways and bad habits of all parties involved! The issue of unions and their standing on "a right to work" state should not be an issue. These people are the ones who are on the front lines everyday risking their lives for the public, should they not be able to lend input? Especially when concerning the what should be a common goal, the safety of us all!
Sincerely, Concerned Citizen
and proud father of a fire fighter.
Posted by Tulane75 on April 6, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo and Billythekid are on the same page alright. It is the same page (post) that we read last month, the month before that, the month before that or any other time Mayor Riley's name is mentioned.
Posted by TinaR on April 6, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Firefighters for the truth, you act like the fireman who was suspended for NOT following new guidelines should be hailed a hero for standing up and "taking his punishment like a man". What a load of crap!
I have friends who are firefighters. I have family who are firefighters, and what I understand, is that no one wants to end their career on a negative note no matter what your profession. What I see, is that Chief Thomas is trying to make changes and yet, it would seem that he has to pull some CFD members kicking and screaming through the change and crying about this or that. And everytime he does or days, something that someone does not like, there is an article in the PC. Futher, no matter what decision he makes, he is second guessed or called out.It is plain silly.
Quite frankly, I do not want City Council getting involved in the investigation. I would like the people who are investigating to be able to do just that without being tossed into the "I'm in it for me political arena". Let them do their jobs, let them make their reports and once that is done, should City Council want to speak with them , then sure, but do not disrupt them from what they are supposed to do. I especially do not want to see City Council get their hands on these folks before the investigation is complete, because in my mind, had the money been allocated by said council when it was needed, some of these things could have been fixed long ago, but as my great grandmother used to say, "You can't get blood from a turnip". City Council does not have clean hands in my opinion, everything is hunky dory until someone gets hurt or in this case killed, and then everyone is up in arms. Where was the concern or the public outcry before this happened. There wasn't one and why.... tooo many folks were afraid that their darn taxes might go up a few bucks to cover these expense. So, for saving a few bucks a year, the expense was 9 of Charleston's Finest Heros.
Posted by gencon1 on April 6, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The unions are just trying to get control. They have used this tragedy to try to beef up thier membership. Typical union behaviour. I wouldn't give them the time of day.
Posted by gencon1 on April 6, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unions are the only organizations that are more corrupt than government.
Posted by carolinapanther on April 7, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with gencon1. Dont give the unions a chance to gain more control and corruption. NEVER TRUST THE UNION!!
Posted by bickleseagrave on April 7, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow gencon1, Carolinapanther what union did you ever belong to that treated you like that, none I'll bet. Totally uneducated comments. I have been a proud member of the IAFF for over 30 years and it's been great.
Unbelievable what the brothers have to endure under the Charleston management and politicians. They have had inferior equipment, lower wages, less benefits and more. They deserve better.
We enjoy fantastic wages, great medical benefits, great sick policies,time and a half for overtime, a manning clause with 4 firefighters on a pumper or overtime will be called, job security and top notch equipment both vehicles and personal equipment.The list of benefits is endless
Not once have I ever regretted paying dues, in the past when management has tried to walk all over us the International has been there with lawyers and money to help us out.
This "Right To Work" thing is archaic and does not benefit your hard working loyal firefighters, it only benefits management.
I will be retiring next year with a fantastic pension which will carry me comfortably through my retirement years, not one complaint about the union here or any one of the brothers in my local.