Four Cases From Todays News Headlines
Its been a busy day news wise, and four stories caught my attention. In San Francisco, two fire department applicants have filed suit in state court alleging they were discriminated against because they have diabetes. From the write up, it appears there is more to the story as both were career firefighters Presidio Fire Department, one serving as union president and the other as secretary treasurer. However, the suit is focused on the narrow issue of disability discrimination.
In New York, a firefighter has filed suit against FDNY alleging that the department is not following safe maritime practices. Firefighter Frederick Domini seeks a court order grounding the department’s newest vessel, The 343, until the department complies with all Coast Guard and maritime requirements. Domini alleges a crash between two fire boats in January proves his point.
In Jeffersonville, Indiana, a lawsuit filed by Fire Marshall Jason Sharp over a demotion has been settled with Sharp retaining his rank of major and the city paying his legal fees. Sharp originally alleged political retaliation in the demotion but the case was settled on the basis of language in the collective bargaining agreement.
And lastly, the Union Fire Company in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania has been reopened following successful negotiations between local officials and the company. Recall last week the company was closed because they failed to comply with township requirements. The company alleged that the closing was political retaliation and threatened a civil suit. As a condition of reopening, the company agreed to accept new leadership.
As someone who worked the offshore waters of the Atlantic before becoming a firefighter, I can appreciate the safety concerns of the FDNY marine unit firefighter. I, of course, don’t know all the facts of this incident or history of the FDNY marine program, but it seems to me that filing suit in court may not be the best way to solve this particular problem.
Thanks Mike
We might never know the truth, but I agree, if the problems are that blatant and dangerous – you would think a lawsuit would not be necessary to prompt change.
My best estimate of he San Francisco FD issue is that the City did not bring these two into the SFFD when they Consolidated the Presido FD as part of their Department.
It’ll be interesting to see how this “Plays Out”. I’ve had several diabetic co-workers and a frined of mine in Colorado Springs FD was in a Print advertisement some years back for a Portable Insulin Pump.
ukfbbuff
There if definitely clash between the law and technology with the law lagging way way behind the technology. There is also a lag factor with NFPA 1582 that the committee is working diligently to address.
Prosthetic limbs, diabetes, even cardiac bypass surgury all used to be mandatory grounds for exclusion or dismissal but the technology now calls that into question, and who knows what is just around the corner.