Fire Department's culture problem
CLOSE RANKS. Protect self interest, not the public interest.
The Boston Firefighters' Union is once again flaunting its me-first culture and resistance to change.
Four months ago, Boston Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser demanded that a department board reopen its investigation and examine autopsy reports of two firefighters who died last year in a restaurant fire. The board - composed entirely of union members - did nothing. As reported by the Globe's Donovan Slack, board members refused to examine autopsy reports that indicate that one firefighter had cocaine in his system and the second had a blood alcohol level of 0.27, more than three times the legal limit to drive in Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, the union, which has been without a contract since July 2006, continues to reject random drug testing, unless firefighters are paid more to do it. But despite strong union opposition, change is coming to the Boston Fire Department.
"In my heart of hearts, in their [union] heart of hearts, everyone knows this contract will end up with some [drug] testing protocol . . . Every major fire department is addressing it in some way," said James Shannon, a former Massachusetts congressman and chairman of a review panel set up after firefighters Warren J. Payne and Paul J. Cahill died fighting the Tai Ho restaurant blaze and the media reported on their autopsy results.
Following up on recommendations proposed by the Shannon panel, there are now daily firehouse roll calls, at which chiefs are supposed to visibly inspect firefighters to make sure they are drug and alcohol free. Also, Fraser appointed two new civilian deputies who are supposed to shift the balance of power away from deputy chiefs who rose from union ranks.
These changes are incremental and long overdue. They pick up on the recommendations of two previous fire department reviews, which the mayor ignored for years. The current need for serious reform is underscored by new allegations that some firefighters retired on fake disability claims and some cheated on civil service exams.
Sam Tyler, president of the watchdog Boston Municipal Research Bureau, said, "There are changes," but warns that on their own "they are not going to solve the culture problem."
The "culture problem" at the Boston Fire Department is the big problem.
The Boston Firefighters Union continues to play the role of rebel with only one cause, self-protection. Union president Ed Kelly recently told Boston Magazine that the scandals of the past 11 months have been twisted to serve a single purpose: "to bully us into an inferior contract," so the city can save money. "The only time you read about alleged abuse and gaming of the system is when they're trying to attack us, to put pressure on us at the bargaining table," said Kelly in the magazine's July edition.
A me-first mentality is not unusual for public employee unions. You can see another example after the death of David Woodman, 22, who stopped breathing while in police custody after his arrest during the June 18 Boston Celtics NBA championship celebration.
The first reaction of police officers involved in the incident was to coordinate their stories to protect each other. Thomas J. Nee, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, responded with immediate certainty that "nothing those officers did that night caused his death." Nee's certainty was backed up by Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis, who also declared, "While our investigation is still preliminary, it appears from the evidence that we have reviewed thus far that officers did not use excessive force." The FBI is now investigating the matter.
At least Fraser, the civilian fire commissioner, is pushing back against the firefighters' union. He's not accepting their opposition to commonsense reform that is aimed at protecting the public - and firefighters, too. Addressing the issue of chemical impairment is important not only to the citizenry, which depends on the fire department, but on firefighters who depend on each other.
Each time the firefighters' union puts self-interest ahead of the public interest, it loses credibility with the public. It also helps the public define the "culture problem" at the Boston Fire Department as a union problem.
Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com.
