Firefighters Claim Work Harrassment
posted 7:06 pm Thu January 17, 2008 - Washington
The firefighters claim inappropriate comments that some of their superiors consider funny have made it difficult for a diverse staff to work together, including comments based on race and sexual orientation. "That's terrible, that's messed up, that's trifling," said one resident reacting to the comments which have riled firefighters.
At roll call last month, firefighters said a Lieutenant introduced a new firefighter using notes, which were later retrieved from the trash saying "Boy George was the new man's favorite singer," that he was "red neck and his favorite alcoholic drink was a fuzzy naval." The man stayed silent, but when other firefighters objected, they were made to wash fire vehicles as punishment.One council member didn't like it. "The parts that I readily understood were inappropriate and it concerns me," said Jim Graham.
Firefighters fearing retaliation declined to talk on camera or be identified, but ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 cameras followed a group of them to a lawyers office where they're seeking legal action. They took a picture of a deer head dressed up "ghetto style" with a money chain around the neck, a marijuana blunt in his mouth and the word "da heights zoo."
"It has racial implication too and I'm not please with it," said D.C. Council member Yvette Alexander.
Firefighters complain that much of the management at the firehouse is a click that knows no bounds.
Both Alexander and Graham have complained to Fire Chief Dennis Rubin who issued a statement saying he takes the allegations very seriously and intends to learn all the facts of what occurred.
Latest Comment on Firefighters Claim Work Harrassment
Star Child
6:13 am on 01/18/08
The behavior on the Fire Department is unexceptable. There are laws against this behavior. Not taking this behavior on the chin, is a start. Reporting this behavior to the appropriate people and getting a lawyer is within their rights. If others don't like it that attorneys are now involved, they can look back and clearly see, that the offenders had a choice to not commit the violation in the first place. Novanewsjunkie2, no need in crying they hit me back first. People who harrass and demean others are the real bullies and cowards when it is all said and done. I am thrilled that civil rights violations are not tolerated period.
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