New SB manager group's title irks firefighters union
Stacia Glenn
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO - Firefighters and their managers are squaring off on opposite sides of the 4th Ward City Council race, sparking an investigation into a battalion chief and touching off a dispute that's headed to court this morning.
The San Bernardino City Professional Firefighters, a union representing 148 San Bernardino firemen, is supporting challenger Joe Arnett for the council seat.
But in recent months, a group of department commanders created the San Bernardino City Professional Fire Managers, which is supporting incumbent Fred Shorett.
The firefighters' union claims the similar-sounding name is being used to mislead voters into thinking that most Fire Department employees support the incumbent.
They plan to file for an emergency injunction in San Bernardino Superior Court this morning seeking to stop the managers' group from using the name.
"They picked a name just like ours to confuse and deceive the voters, and it's working," said union President Scott Moss. "This threw up a huge division between a few managers and the whole labor force. All of a sudden, they're working against us."
Fire Chief Mike Conrad said the dispute was part of the normal contentiousness of political seasons.
"We think we should, on occasion, have a voice," he said.
Battalion Chief Dennis Moon, president of the fire managers group, did not return repeated calls for comment.
City officials said the fire managers group is not officially recognized by the city as a bargaining unit because no petition has been filed. If one is filed, the matter would go to the City Council for approval.
The union has lodged a lengthy complaint against Moon, accusing him of engaging in campaign business on duty and harassing firefighters into listening to his political views.
The complaint also accuses Conrad of conspiring and participating with Moon in political business while on duty.
Conrad denied the allegations.
City Manager Charles McNeely said he has asked the Human Resources Department to investigate the allegations. He declined to comment specifically because it's a personnel matter.
Conrad cannot join the managers association because he is a contract employee. But he said he supports the group, which he said formed to negotiate with the city for fire manager benefits.
But firefighters are suspicious because the group formed within the last two months and has only used its name to endorse Shorett.
Conrad pointed out the similarity in several management and labor union association names and said the fire managers are following the path of police managers, who last year formed the San Bernardino Police Management Association.
Dan Crow, a California Professional Firefighters district vice president who represents the Inland Empire, said the similarity in names could be misleading to residents and questioned why fire officials are getting involved in city politics.
"It's very uncommon," he said. "Department heads usually do not involve themselves in city politics. They usually just involve themselves in their department."
Conrad acknowledged the rarity of top officials endorsing council candidates.
"To be political is not common, but we voiced support for Fred Shorett because we've had a good working relationship with him," he said. "We feel like he has a heart for safety and that he'll help rebuild this department when the funds become available."
The city eliminated eight vacant firefighter positions in April to save $1.2million, reducing nine of the city's 12 fire stations to three-man crews. Firefighters were outraged, claiming the move risks public safety.
Moss said the union does not begrudge fire managers their own association. But he said concerns have risen now that administrators have gotten involved in city politics.
"It's caused a Grand Canyon between us," he said.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Wellll, it appears the the union has some pretty thin skin after all. What's the matter kiddies, can't have all the candles on your cake ??
Get a life. You have cost us enough already, and now you spoil for a squabble in the courts???
I suppose Arnett, Kelley and McCammack will come to the rescue and chastise management for not being nice???????????????
HHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM?
Well, I guess it is ok for Union Boss Moss to do all the politics he wants to, but when the fire department managers wish to voice their concerns he squeals like a stuck pig. Everyone is entitled to representation, not just the rank and file. As far as I know, these fire managers are also firefighters who worked their way up through the organization. The citizens of San Bernardino are sick and tired of the public employee unions trying to bankrupt the City like they have the State. It way time to have Charter Section 186 (automatically setting firefighter salaries) but back on the ballot for another vote. If not stopped soon, 186 will bankrupt the City for sure. But that is all right for the firefighters since nearly all live and spend their money outside of the City.
A phony fire manager group for a phony councilman who promised the voters he would support public safety and then turned around and did the opposite once he was in office. 4th Ward voters know that REAL firefighters are supporting Joe Arnett. Firefighters are walking precincts, calling voters and hosting community barbeques. That kind of active involvement is a lot more helpful than the endorsement of a phony management group.
Lawman is right, REAL firefighters - most that do not live in the City of San Bernardino - are walking the streets of San Bernardino and hosting community barbeques in an effort to affect the political race for the city that we live in, not them. That kind of active involvement, along with thinly veiled bribes - known as endorsments - are what is wrong with this process. As you can see from what Lawman says above, the belief was there that Shorett would vote the way the San Bernardino Professional Fire Fighters Local #891 wanted him to vote. Now that he hasn't done what was expected they are throwing their might behind Arnett. Same thing with Desjardins in the 2nd ward.
I'd like to know where these "Professional Fire Fighters" expect the money to come from to fund the 4th fire fighter for each engine. Why do they suddenly think that they are qualified to make decisions on how taxpayer money is spent in this city? I think that the city should just declare bankruptcy - then they would have to start all over again on their contracts. Personally I would rather have more police on the streets than the 4th fire fighter.
Shorett promised 4th Ward voters he would make police and firefighters the city's top budget priority. He made this promise to THE VOTERS--not the firefighters. Then he voted to cut public safety, build low income housing at Arden Guthrie and hire a $170,000 a year PR image polisher for the City Manager. 4th Ward voters know they were lied to and they will vote for a new Councilman on November 3rd.
What about management uses our resources to politic on city time? Nothing wrong with that? What a double standard. Firefighters were on their own time on Saturday, while Chief Conrad had a temper tantrum over their freedom of speech, on their own time! I would have Conrad and his command staff fired for using city time. Just like the county guys were disciplined for using county vehicles to help move friends. This is no different. The only difference is that Morris nor McNeely will reprimand the chief cuz he's supporting their guy. This is total crap.
Charter 186 is indeed BURDENSOME for taxpayers in San Bernardino! The arguement by proponents of 186, including Moss & ARNETT, is that SB needs 186 to attract and retain quality firefighters. Really? Place an ad to any of the 18% unemployed of San Bernardino residents, and I bet many will line up to become a firefigther. Let's face it nearly 75 cents of every tax dollar goes to FIRE & POLICE, with little left for expenses that impact potholes, libraries, parks and rec and other critical services to taxpayers. REPEAL CHARTER 186! ! It is too burdensome, rewards salaries just because, and is a dead end and out-dated model of salary structure. It only benefits police and fire unions NOT taxpayers! ! SB is one a few charter cities in California and when you look at the other 12 or so remaining charter-cities, ALL are infested with high crime, high drug activity, prostitution, and black-eyed with blight and grafitti. Argument over with charter cities and esp CHARTER 186!