Wrongfully Fired Local President May Have Job Back

August 13, 2009 – After a five-year legal battle, wrongfully-terminated former Snowmass, CO Local 4327 Local President Paul Blangsted may soon be back on the job now that a federal district court judge has ruled he be reinstated to his position as fire fighter and awarded other monetary damages.

“Our fire fighters have a constitutional right to organize without fear of retaliation from their employers,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Any time our members’ rights have been violated, the IAFF is prepared to fight until justice prevails.”

Soon after Blangsted and the late IAFF 9th District Vice President Mike McNeill organized Snowmass Local 4327 in 2004, the Snowmass-Wildcat Fire District and its fire chief were quick to make their opposition to the union known.

The assistant fire chief made allegations that Blangsted had vandalized a sign at a recreation club where fire fighters use the workout facilities for free. Blangsted denied the allegations, but security tape from club showed him defacing a computer-generated paper sign announcing the closure of the club. After viewing the tape, the district terminated him.

“The disciplinary action against me was excessive,” says Blangsted, who says the termination was primarily due to his union organizing and leadership role, in violation of his First Amendment right of free association.

After extensive litigation, a jury returned a substantial verdict against the Snowmass Fire District, in favor of Blangsted. The award included backpay, lost benefits and compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages against Fire Chief William Cowan.