Austin Firefighters are taking to the media with concerns about the growing number of firefighters being suspended for traffic incidents. Sixteen firefighters have been suspended in the past month, prompting IAFF Local 975 President Bob Nicks to complain about an “over-punishing environment” that is “harmful to morale”.
Austin’s disciplinary disputes go back several years, but appear to have become worse following the IAFF’s censure of Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr last July.