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Austin Firefighters Angered Over 16 Suspensions
Austin Firefighters are taking to the media with concerns about the growing number of firefighters being suspended for traffic incidents. Sixteen firefighters have been suspended in the past month, prompting IAFF Local 975 President Bob Nicks to complain about an “over-punishing environment” that is “harmful to morale”.
Austin’s disciplinary disputes go back several years, but appear to have become worse following the IAFF’s censure of Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr last July.
Maybe it’s just me, but I would be interested to find out what these traffic “incidents” were. OUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a collision, yeah, I can see suspensions. Parking blocking a hydrant, maybe a suspension, if done repeatedly. But suspensions for petty crap like plate lights out, or improper mounting of an inspection sticker would seem like retribution or retaliation from the brass after the union censure.
BTW, any idea what happened with the guy from your 2014 post?
Seems pretty even across the board. Drive with due regard, and you don’t get suspended. The rank and file members don’t realize the cost associated with even minor vehicle damage. Having driven in Austin, one must be on the defensive just getting into a vehicle.
It is an impossibility to meet the target goal.
I say that because I had a “bird strike” in which the bird flew into my engine while driving it.
My FD had “Operational Incident” as means of documenting the incident and slight damage to the mounding.
Austin needs to either “Meet and confer” on this issue and get it resolved or call in an outside reviewer to make an assessment and recommendation.
But…other than an obvious excessive speed or DUI incident, it would appear that Chief Rhoda Mae Kerris being “over handed” with her discipline methods.
Doing that in my means she starting to “Run Amoke” as a loose cannon on the deck of a ship and the firefighters union would be correct to seek a replacement.
In 2016 “Theory X” Autocratic Management isn’t going to tolerated, when the firefighters have been taught “Participative Management” methods bring better results.
A mind set change needs to occur and it may be the Chiefs in this instance.