Addison’s full-time firefighters last week dumped their union a year-and-a-half after they voted to join it.
‘It wasn’t going in the direction that we wanted it to go or that we thought it would go,? said Firefighter/Paramedic John Beach, who served as the union local’s president. ‘It’s over with and we’re going to move forward.?
On Aug. 17, Beach notified the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) that he and the department’s other full-time firefighter, Marilyn Szost, no longer wished to be represented by the Southfield-based union.
The next day MAFF sent a letter to the township and state Employment Relations Commission withdrawing its interest in representing Addison’s full-timers.
Although the union local had been in existence for about 18 months, the bargaining unit and township had yet to agree on a contract. The two sides were still in negotiations.
Beach, who didn’t wish to ‘point any fingers,? felt the negotiations were unproductive and ultimately, unnecessary in light of the positive changes that have occurred in township government since last year’s election.
When they voted to join the union back in February 2008, Beach said they did so based on ‘bad information? that the township was planning to take away some of their benefits.
It turned out that wasn’t the case
‘Proper information wasn’t being channeled down to us,? said Beach, who’s been with the department for 10 years. ‘There was a wall between us and the township.?
But all that’s changed under the township Supervisor Bruce Pearson, who was elected in November last year.
‘Bruce is definitely more open to listening and change,? Beach said. ‘There’s a better chain of communication now than there was in the past.?
Pearson agreed. ‘I think the rapport is completely different now,? he said. ‘With the new administration, I don’t think they have that fear anymore. That’s why they did away with (the union).?
The amount of public support for the fire department was another reason Beach felt the union was unnecessary.
‘Our public opinion is a lot higher than we anticipated,? he explained. ‘We have a better chance of surviving these economic times with the public behind us.?
The firefighters? decision to pull the plug on the union was somewhat of a relief to Pearson given the ‘staggering? economic demands the union negotiator was making.
‘They hit us with some very high numbers,? he said. ‘It kind of shook us.?
Though he could not divulge exactly what those figures were, Pearson indicated the township could not have afforded to meet the union’s demands and maintain the fire department’s current level of services.
But the supervisor made it very clear that these demands came from the union negotiator, not the firefighters.
‘I don’t think it was ever our firefighters who were asking for this. I think it was the union,? he said. ‘I’ve been union for 30-some years. I respect the union and I could have worked with them, but they weren’t being realistic. (The union negotiator) came in like we were a big city fire department and we aren’t.
‘Our people get an awful lot of benefits working out here they don’t get in the big city. There are a lot of people in the big city that would love to have the laid-back atmosphere and receive a little less pay. There are trade-offs. I don’t think that union man understood that.?
Pearson believes the firefighters? decision to pull out of the union was largely based on their commitment to the community they live and work in. ‘I think the firefighters stepped up to the plate and they decided that it was more important . . . to preserve the fire department,? he said.
Ultimately, Pearson couldn’t be happier or more pleased with the department. ‘We really do have a terrific fire department,? he said. ‘We like to treat them as part of the family here. They have done exceptionally well for our township. It’s that personal touch that we really appreciate from them.
‘This community does appreciate the public servants who live and work in the area. I was a prime example.?
Before he retired from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department last year, Pearson worked as a deputy in Addison for many years.