Edison Firefighters Sue To Block Staffing Cuts

Posted by: Curt Varone October 31, 2010 3 Comments

Firefighters in Edison Township, NJ have filed suit against the township alleging that staffing cuts are endangering citizens. The suit, which was filed in Superior Court in New Brunswick on Friday, October 29, 2010, alleges that the cuts constitute an abuse of power and violate local law.

The firefighter’s union president Robert Yackel, who took on the previous township administration  himself in a freedom of speech lawsuit in Federal court, has been vocal about the closing of an engine company and the reduction of staffing from 22 to 20 firefighters per shift. Yackel was quoted as saying “What’s especially troubling is that these decisions aren’t being made by fire department brass or even elected officials who live in Edison. They are coming from the business administrator’s office”.

For more on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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