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We were threatened, union says

Clearwater firefighters union officers file a complaint with a state commission accusing the fire chief and the city manager of threatening them in e-mails.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published October 20, 2005

CLEARWATER - The running dispute between City Hall and the Clearwater firefighters union took yet another turn Wednesday as union officers accused Chief Jamie Geer and City Manager Bill Horne with threatening them in e-mails sent to the entire department last month.

The union outlined the accusation in a 10-page complaint filed with the state's Public Employees Relations Commission.

David Hogan, secretary and treasurer of Clearwater Fire Fighters Association Local 1158, declined to comment Wednesday, referring questions to the union's complaint. Union president John Lee did not return calls from the Times.

Among other things, the union's complaint demands a written apology from the chief and city manager.

Geer and Horne sent the messages on Sept. 1 as the union planned to hold a vote of no confidence in the chief's ability to lead the department.

"I am through playing around," Geer wrote. ". . . I will use every means at my disposal to finally hold these (union officials) accountable. We cannot advance to the next level until we cleanse our organization of the disgraceful and incompetent behavior of these representatives."

Geer declined to comment Wednesday, saying he was waiting to see how the state commission would treat the complaint.

Horne's e-mail began, "The scheduled vote of no confidence on Chief Geer, regardless of the outcome, will generate unintended consequences for your IAFF Local 1158 members."

On Wednesday, Horne would not elaborate on what he meant by "unintended consequences," but said he has never threatened union officials.

"I clearly have a record as a city manager of never expressing intimidating comments to employees," he said. "If someone construes it that way, it's certainly not in my tenure as a city manager."

The vote of no confidence in Geer's leadership passed 87-34, union officials said Sept. 20. Horne and Mayor Frank Hibbard have questioned the counting of the vote, which carries no official weight.

The state's Public Employees Relations Commission handles labor and employment disputes between state or local governments and their employees. Steve Meck, the commission's general counsel, did not return numerous phone messages Wednesday.

The union's complaint is the latest development in a bitter back-and-forth between the city and the fire union.

Last week, two city paramedics, fired after refusing to respond to an early morning 911 call, filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saying they were singled out because they are black.

That case is pending.

Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 445-4156 or jfries@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:19:18]