Updated 7:20 p.m.
PROVIDENCE -- Dozens of city firefighters called over the past two days,
prompting Mayor David N. Cicilline to obtain a restraining order in court
today requiring the firefighters to return to work.
The order, issued today in Superior Court, Providence, directs union
leaders to advise their members to comply with the department's
collective bargaining agreement and state law, according to a press
release from the mayor's office.
Cicilline called Local 799 "irresponsible" for staging what he said
appeared to be a work stoppage. But union president David Peters said
the sick calls were legitimate.
"There was no union directive for them to call in sick or take a
personal day at all," Peters said tonight.
Sixty-three firefighters called in sick today, costing the department
$19,000 in overtime for replacements, according to Karen Southern, a
Cicilline spokeswoman. Last night, 32 firefighters called in sick,
costing the department $12,000 in overtime, Southern said.
Cicilline's office said it went to court after what it described as a
"work stoppage and slowdown" by the city's firefighters in violation of
their contract and state law.
Superior Court Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson granted the restraining order
after finding the union engaged in an illegal job action, according to
the mayor's office.
The firefighters have been without a contract since their last contract
expired June 30, 2001, but they are still bound by the provisions of the
old contract. State law prohibits fire department employees from
striking and any other type of work stoppage or slowdown.
"I am outraged the firefighters decided to compromise the safety of
their fellow firefighters and potentially the residents of this city by
staging this irresponsible work stoppage," Cicilline said in the press
release. "The union leadership had available other mechanisms to voice
their concerns. Instead they chose to jeopardize the welfare of the
people of Providence and that is unacceptable."
Cicilline said the city has been able to maintain minimum mandatory
staffing levels of about 95 firefighters per shift by ordering
firefighters already working to stay on overtime.
Fewer than 10 firefighters per shift typically call in sick, according
to Southern. As of this afternoon, it did not appear that there would be
an unusual number of firefighters out sick for the evening shift, she
said.
It is not known whether union negotiations or recent personnel moves
prompted the apparent sickout -- and Cicilline says it does not matter.
The firefighters have been negotiating for a new contract. Cicilline has
been seeking concessions from their union on health care costs.
In recent personnel moves, two department administrators, Guy Lanzi and
David Costa, have been been moved into acting assistant chief positions
by Acting Chief Gary Mulcahy.
Cicilline said that the city will take every step to recover the cost of
the overtime spent on replacing those who called in sick.
