Burning Question

Today’s burning question: I’m a career firefighter. Two years ago I was elected to the state legislature. I have always been careful not to use my position with the fire department for campaigning or political purposes. Unbeknownst to me folks in my political party used a photo of me in my fire department uniform...

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Today’s burning question #1: My fire chief is an imbecile. He has suspended a bunch of us (myself included) because we refused to remove American flag decals from our fire helmets and lockers. Its really pretty typical of our idiotic chief. He doesn't support us ... Today’s burning question #2: I am a fire chief and received a complaint about inappropriate and offensive photos and stickers on lockers and helmets.

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Today’s burning question: I work part-time for a small fire department in a state that recognizes collective bargaining for firefighters. We are in the process of filing a petition with state labor relations board to become recognized by the township for collective bargaining purposes. We have enough members to form the union and we have all signed the union election petition. Rumor has it that the trustees have found out and plan to terminate our internet/WiFi access, stop letting us wash our cars at the station, put renovations of the fire station on hold, and even cancel the purchase of a new engine.

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Today’s burning question: Since fire stations are public buildings, does that mean anyone can come into a fire station and take photos whenever they want? At what point would I be within my rights to deny entry into our public building?

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Today’s burning question: My fire department gives firefighters a stipend of $125 dollars a year to cover the costs of various text messages they send us and any work related calls we make/receive. Does this give the department the right to search our personal phones? Answer: No, a simple stipend would not – in and of itself – authorize a fire department to “search” someone’s cellphone

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Today’s burning question: I work for a fire department as a Firefighter – Paramedic. We have a quality assurance program in place for EMS. The department has EMTs doing quality assurance reviews on medical reports submitted by the Paramedics. In addition, ...

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Today’s burning question: Our union agreed to a physical fitness program and now the administration is threatening to discipline members who they feel have not been participating enough. Can they do that? Answer: As a general rule, a fire chief ...

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Today’s burning question: I am an African American firefighter. I used the N… word in a meeting and a coworker reported me to the fire chief. Could I be in trouble? I mean, its not like I was using it ...

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Today’s burning question: When fire and EMS personnel render aid to a person whose capacity appears to be diminished, and we do not allow the person to decline aid and leave the scene, can we be guilty of violating the ...

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Today’s burning question: I am a fire chief and in our city, all department heads who face termination have a right to a pre-disciplinary hearing and if terminated a right to a hearing before a panel or arbitrator. I believe ...

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Today’s burning question: Can an officer be disciplined for not supervising a firefighter while both are off-duty? For example if some officers were out on the town with some firefighters, and the firefighters start to get a little rowdy, do ...

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Today’s burning question: I am a company officer in a large fire department with over 30 stations running four-person engine and truck companies handling 140,000 calls annually. We have a system in place for people to access their local fire ...

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Today’s burning question: Our rules prohibit us from being involved in political campaigning while on duty or in uniform. Do you think we could appear in a campaign ad for a candidate that our union supports provided we wear a ...

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Today’s burning question:  Are text messages subject to disclosure under the public records laws? Answer: Yes, work related text messages sent or received by a public employee are a public record and unless they fall under one of the listed ...

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