Excerpts from Bettergov.org:
A rope found in the locker of a firefighter union official may signal internal disagreements within a fire department in a western suburb, as new work rules are being introduced.
A noose is widely recognized as a symbol of racial hatred, particularly against African Americans, who endured the horrific practice of lynching for many years. Recently, a noose has become a focal point in a dispute between white firefighters in Westchester, a suburb west of Chicago. The changes to work rules have caused deep divisions among the department’s members.
The issue began in September when a white firefighter discovered a rope that resembled a noose inside his locker at the Westchester Fire Department. This was revealed through police reports and documents obtained by the Better Government Association via the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Local officials don’t believe the rope was intentionally placed there as a noose. However, the firefighter, Matthew Martin, felt threatened and reported “tension among union members†in a police report.
Martin, who was then president of the firefighters’ union, had been at the center of controversy because he supported policy changes that upset some rank-and-file members. As part of an agreement to prevent the village from outsourcing fire services, the union approved several contract revisions, including lowering the allowable blood-alcohol level for on-duty firefighters from 0.05 to 0.021. This is lower than the legal driving limit of 0.08.
In a 2013 series of reports, the Better Government Association highlighted how many police and fire departments allowed employees to work with high levels of alcohol in their systems. Westchester was one of the examples, as the village board approved a union deal allowing police officers to work with a blood-alcohol level of up to 0.05, despite the mayor’s opposition.
Since then, Village Manager Janet Matthys said the administration has been working to reduce blood-alcohol limits across all union contracts, but so far only the firefighters have agreed to the changes.
Another major point of conflict involved changes to rules about second jobs. Starting in 2015, firefighters could no longer perform firefighting or emergency medical services for other employers.
“A few firefighters had to give up their side jobs,†Matthys said. “They were very upset with the union board, especially the president, feeling their views weren’t being heard.†Two factions formed within the union, leading to significant infighting. (The department has 28 firefighters, 24 of whom are union members.)
This tension coincided with the discovery of the rope in Martin’s locker.
After the police investigation, someone from the fire department came forward and explained that they had found the rope on the ground, picked it up, and hung it on a hook to avoid a tripping hazard, according to documents and interviews.
“The fire chief told me they do rope exercises regularly. So I said, ‘OK, I think we’re done here,’†said Westchester Police Chief John M. Carpino. “It’s a shame that someone felt their life was in danger. I think it was overblown.â€
Martin stated, “As union president, I was trying to support our firefighters and the community. But I was personally attacked and ridiculed for it.†He referred further questions to the village.
In an email to Fire Chief James Adams, Martin mentioned a series of “personal attacks on union leaders†and expressed dissatisfaction with the village’s conclusion regarding the rope. He later resigned from his position as union president but remains a firefighter.
In response to the growing tensions, the village board recently hired a consulting firm for about $28,000 to conduct an audit of the fire department, reviewing everything from finances to personnel management and response times. A draft report is expected by the end of May.
The average salary for Westchester firefighters in 2014 was around $80,000 per year, with most also trained as paramedics.
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