Fire Station Vet Clinic Poses Health Risk

October 7, 2009 – Bourne, MA Local 1717 fire fighters are concerned that a new veterinary clinic operating from the decontamination room in one of their fire stations is putting the health and safety of fire fighters and the public at unnecessary risk. Local 1717 is working to have the clinic moved to another facility or shut down.

Without notifying fire fighters, the Town of Bourne approved the clinic, which offers veterinary services at a reduced rate to financially disadvantaged families with pets every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

“We found out about the clinic six days before it opened,” says past Local 1717 President Gilbert Taylor. “We noticed veterinary supplies mixed in with our medical supplies at our Sagamore fire station.”

Local 1717 President Penny Fusco called the Town administrator to express concern over the change in working conditions, but the administrator claimed that working conditions would be unaffected and that no laws were being violated.

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 150E, any changes in working conditions are subject to bargaining. In his capacity on Local 1717’s Executive Board, Taylor submitted a request for bargaining, but the Town has ignored it.

“The Town’s claim that our working conditions are unchanged by the clinic is ridiculous,” says Taylor. “The possibility of cross-contamination alone should be reason enough to close the clinic.”

The clinic operates from the station’s decontamination room where fire fighters wash off potentially hazardous substances. “Any Wednesday that we need that room, we must ask the veterinarian to leave the room first,” says Taylor.

The union is also concerned about flea infestations in ambulances and turnout gear, fire fighters with allergies working out of the station, illnesses spread from parasites and the potential for fire fighters to be bitten by an infected animal.

Local 1717 has filed a grievance citing the posed health risks to its members and the community and the unilateral change in fire fighter working conditions. Additionally, the fire fighters have filed an Unfair Labor Practice because the Town has failed to bargain over the changes in working conditions.