Suspension is in order if firefighters' allegations true
The men of the Richmond, B. C., fire
department are feeling a little more heat than usual these days. And the
controversy quickly building around them is showing no signs of
abating.
It was revealed this week that all four
female firefighters employed by the department -- a whopping 2 per cent
of its entire work force -- are now off work, two on unpaid leave, two
on paid.
One has filed a human-rights complaint,
while two others have initiated grievances within the department about
the often miserable and untenable working conditions for women.
A fourth, Jeannette Moznik, filed a
lawsuit last August against the city, the department, the fire chief and
a number of male colleagues.
In the suit, she alleges a condom filled
with fluid was once placed inside her locker with a note that read: "We
will get rid of you cunt." She alleges she was sent inside a burning
building with another female firefighter and when she asked male
colleagues to turn on the water pressure, they refused.
The firefighter Ms. Moznik was with that
day was Jocelyn Roberts, who committed suicide in February, 2005. Ms.
Moznik's statement of claim alleges her deceased colleague also endured
harassment.
The lawsuit says Ms. Moznik was repeatedly harassed by male colleagues between 1997 and 2001.
It continued unabated, she asserts, despite lodging complaints with the union and management.
Ms. Moznik alleges that, on another occasion, male colleagues placed human feces in her boots and overalls.
None of the allegations have been proved in court.
The response by the department and members
of Richmond city council to the recent developments has ranged from
underwhelming to pathetic.
Referring to the incident in which Ms.
Moznik alleges human feces was placed in her boots and overalls,
Richmond Councillor Linda Barnes said: "That would definitely not be
allowed in any work sites in Richmond."
Isn't that a relief to know?
All of the negative publicity has forced Richmond council to order an independent review of the complaints by the four women.
Even though a city official admitted this week they've been trying to deal with the problem "for years" with no luck.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie told me yesterday
that the problem is "complicated" and one that has developed "over a
long period of time."
And one, apparently, that has been allowed
to persist under the watch of Richmond Fire Chief Jim Hancock, who has
held his position since 2000. Mr. Brodie said Mr. Hancock's job is safe
and he has "complete confidence" he'll wrestle the problem to the
ground.
Right.
The truth is that fire departments, pretty much everywhere, are among the few remaining male bastions.
In Richmond, the trouble began in 1995 when the department assimilated firefighters from the Vancouver International Airport.
That group included six women -- Richmond had none. Of the six, two have since left for personal reasons.
Jim Lee, assistant to the president of the
International Association of Firefighters, based in Ottawa, said the
national union would love to see more women in the ranks.
He doesn't happen to know how many female
firefighters there are right now across the country because "the union
doesn't keep track of those sorts of things." Huh? He did, however, say
he knew fire departments were actively "recruiting minorities, obviously
women would fall into that category."
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