What Was He Thinking?

Johnson City, New York firefighter's union is vowing to take legal action against the village mayor for suspending their union president because of statements he made at two village board meetings.  Fire Captain and union president Marty Meaney was suspended for 30 days without pay for insubordination towards the village board and the mayor.

Mayor Dennis Hannon said Meaney's conduct reflected badly on the fire department and village officials, and charged Meany with insubordination, unauthorized communications and two other misconduct charges. The union's attorney, Gene Faughnan, says Meaney is being wrongly targeted for speaking out against cuts within the department.

The Mayor’s first problem is a little technicality thing called the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The second problem is that a public employee union representative speaking out on matters of public concern has a great deal of latitude in criticizing public officials – and rightfully so. The case will likely end up in court irrespective of whether the mayor realizes the problem he has created and reverses course.

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