At least one volunteer firefighter in Greater Sudbury has been axed for speaking out against the aborted fire optimization plan, their union announced today.
While the final tally of volunteer firefighters being terminated has yet to be determined, they certainly won't go without a fight, said the regional director of Ontario Volunteer Firefighters Association, CLAC Local 920.
The union represents about 260 volunteer firefighters in Greater Sudbury. Gord O'Coin, regional director, said meetings are still taking place today, so the number of terminations could go up by the end of the day.
“The discipline issued to these volunteer firefighters was excessive and egregious,” said O’Coin. “We are appealing each of these disciplines and terminations and will utilize every resource within our collective agreement to ensure our members are treated justly.”
Disciplinary meetings started Sept. 28 after an ongoing investigation dating back to June of this year, said O'Coin.
Volunteer firefighters took it upon themselves to speak out against the city's heavily scrutinized fire optimization plan, either through social media or in direct conversation with city councillors during the various information sessions, O'Coin said.
“We believe all citizens have the right to freedom of speech, and to be able to voice their concerns,” he said. “This was a plan presented by the city, and they were seeking feedback from citizens. Our volunteers used that opportunity to lobby and voice their concerns about what the optimization plan would do to this city. This is something we will be fighting until these volunteers are reinstated.”
The optimization plan was aimed at reducing the number of volunteer firefighters, closing nine volunteer fire stations, and replacing volunteer firefighters with full-time firefighters. Had the plan gone into effect, it would have resulted in significant tax increases for the residents of the City of Greater Sudbury, O'Coin argued.
“Volunteers opposed the optimization plan because it was not the right plan for the residents of this city,” said Matthew Walchuk, CLAC Sudbury field representative, in a news release. “They were not concerned with losing their stipend for being a volunteer. They realized the actual cost of the optimization plan and knew it would significantly increase taxes while not enhancing the fire service.
"They were left with no choice but to speak with members of council and inform the citizens of what the optimization plan would do. We fully support the rights of our members to free speech and stand with our members.”
The union will file a grievance, after which, a number of meetings will be held to overturn the disciplinary actions take by the city, O'Coin said.
“If that's unsuccessful, then we have the ability to bring the case before an arbitrator, who would be able to make a decision, which we believe would be the reinstatement of the volunteers.”
The city will be releasing a statement regarding the terminations sometime today
