UFA's Grounds for Suspicion

New friction has been sparked in the already-combative relationship between the Fire Department and its largest union over the FDNY's insistence that Firefighters answer routine questions about safety-related incidents without a Uniformed Firefighters Association representative present.

UFA President Steve Cassidy told this newspaper that the union has assisted members in such cases throughout his six years in office and that he believes the department sought a change because of a dust-up in February. In that case, the UFA accused department officials of three times trying to conduct an interview with injured Firefighter Robert Grover while he was under the influence of pain-killers after suffering serious burns.

The FDNY insists it is within its rights under its contracts with both the UFA and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association - although UFOA President John McDonnell sides with Mr. Cassidy on the issue and said the department had made an "about-face" with the policy. Fire officials contend that they are only invoking this right in situations where the Firefighters are not suspected of improper behavior that could lead to charges against them.

The UFA, however, harbors suspicions that the questioning could ultimately compromise the rights of those or other members. Mr. Cassidy, talking to this newspaper's Ari Paul, cited attempts last year by city attorneys to question Firefighters who were involved in battling the Deutsche Bank building fire in advance of them speaking to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office; there was a suspicion then that the Law Department attorneys were more concerned about possible civil suits, including by the families of two firefighters who were killed at the site, than about protecting the rights of those it sought to represent.

Given the mistrust generated by both that incident and the aggressive attempts to question a sedated Firefighter Grover - in a case in which his company was initially sent to the wrong address under a new dispatching policy that the UFA has vehemently opposed - it is understandable that Mr. Cassidy wants union reps present when members are questioned. It is likely that the department will need a ruling from the Board of Collective Bargaining that it has the right to question Firefighters without anyone else present.