Letter to Editor | I find the Fire Department union’s stance revolting

||| FROM GREG AYERS |||

Does Local 3911 IAFF union really represent all its OIFR members? Based on what I heard on Monday during the public comment period, I strongly believe the answer is an emphatic NO. Mr. Danny Weibling, the union president, stated very clearly that if the levy fails, 3 of their fellow members will be terminated. Really? Such a matter of fact, as if a done deal. The union is going to allow this to happen without negotiations with management but rather just accept what management is requesting? Seriously? As a current Teamster and a retiree member of IAFF, this disgusts me. As a past IAFF president of a Lewis County local, I would have expected Mr. Weibling to have said something like:

“The union is in active negotiations with the Interim Chief and the Board of Commissioner to come to an agreement that preserves the line personnel and union members to the greatest extent possible. The union membership recognizes that one of our members, FF/EMT Nelson, plans to retire. We have agreed with OIFR management not to back-fill that position in exchange for retaining the other two union members. While the union wants the levy to pass in November, the union believes an alternative plan needs to be developed, different than the one that has been presented by management. We plan to work with management to develop a plan that treats union members equally with other department employees and that other non-personnel costs are similarly managed. As a sign of good faith, the union has proposed to management that union members would be willing to take a 20% pay reduction and agree to no pay increases until after the levy passes, providing the district is willing to do the same for non-union personnel and to equally cut other district costs.”

That is what a union president does, they protect their members from unreasonable and/or unfair requests of management. A union protects ALL members. Why might the union members not save their fellow members? I believe answers are needed from Mr. Weibling and the surviving union members; else the public may speculate as I do below.

I am aware that the OIFR-IAFF CBA is expiring and a new one is in negotiations. How does this strange union behavior relate to their contract negotiations? Are these changes a part of that negotiation? Is the union wanting a contract that follows the old adage “you kill what you eat, you eat what you kill.” However, it is important to remember that Jimmy Hoffa partook of many similar strategies, and his remains have not been found after over 5 decades. Food for thought, no pun intended.

Maybe the union plans to join OIFR management in scaring the community into voting in favor of the levy. Keep in mind that the only “Vote for the Levy” signs were those purchased by the union local. No community members purchased signs in favor of the levy in August, and clearly the community shared their concerns with their vote. Interesting is that the 2 OIFR staff who are to be terminated if the levy fails are the only union members who are Orcas Island residents. The remaining members all live on the mainland. It is easy to support a levy if you only benefit from its passage, and bear none of the responsibility to fund it.