Florida Local Continues to Win Battles Against City

July 14, 2008 – With several Unfair Labor Practice claims and grievances filed against the City of Clearwater, Florida, Clearwater Local 1158 has been working hard to ensure its members’ rights are protected. Thus far, Local 1158 has not lost a single battle. One of the latest victories came when the City agreed to settle retired fire fighter Wendy Cason’s sexual discrimination lawsuit.

In the settlement, the City did not admit to any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay Cason $74,999.

“Cason was the highest-ranking female in the fire department until she retired, and was never promoted to a chief position,” says John R. Lee, president of Clearwater Local 1158. “I find that appalling. Local 1158 is very happy with the ruling and believes it sends a strong message to the City. We should be promoting our finest. Whether they are female or male should not enter into the decision-making process.”

In this case, Cason, a 21-year veteran fire fighter, charged that Clearwater Fire Chief Jamie Geer discriminated against her because he would not allow her to make up the promotional exam she missed. A male fire fighter who missed the same test was allowed to later take the exam. Cason filed the discrimination case in December 2005.

“The system is not currently set up to support inside promotions and diversity,” says Lee. “There is no diversity in the chief level of the fire service because there is no officers’ training programs available to the rank-and-file. We have plenty of fire fighters qualified to be assistant chiefs.”

In a separate matter, a Clearwater City Council member is putting forth an initiative to lift Clearwater’s street solicitation ban, clearing the way for Clearwater Local 1158 to conduct its MDA Fill-the-Boot campaign on August 23.

The Council had threatened to dispatch police officers to the boot drive to distribute notices to appear in court to anyone participating in the drive. That changed when State House Representative Ed Hooper informed the City Council he planned to be a part of the MDA fundraiser.

Hooper, a former Local 1158 president, sponsored the Iris Roberts Charitable Solicitation Act. The law exempts IAFF affiliates from permit requirements related to collecting for MDA if certain conditions are met.

For the latest information in Clearwater Local 1158’s many battles with the City, visit the Save Clearwater Fire web site.