FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2004
FURTHER INFORMATION:   Jim Lee (613) 567-8988 (O),
                                              (613) 863-8981 (Cell)

Fire Fighter Terminated After Speaking Up for Public Safety

Expressed Concern about Lack of Training for Numerous Hazards

CLARINGTON, ONT. – The city of Clarington has fired a full-time fire fighter because he spoke publicly about the fact that fire fighters are in urgent need of training so they can respond safely and effectively in the event of a major disaster in their community.

“The termination is an outrageous violation of the right to free speech and is an attempt by the city to intimidate and stifle a fire fighter and union member who is responsible for public safety,” said Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Clarington is home to a nuclear power facility, a major highway and three rail lines. Yet fire fighters lack the haz-mat and other specialized training they would need to respond safely and effectively to a major emergency.

That is what Frank Azevedo, chair of the Clarington fire fighters’ Political Action Committee and an elected steward, told a federal election candidate when they met to discuss fire fighter issues during the recent federal election campaign. A Toronto Star reporter picked up the comments, and they ran in the paper’s June 22 edition.

The city responded by immediately suspending Azevedo without pay, and officially terminating his employment on July 6.

“This is a shameful act of intimidation on the city’s part, and we will fight through every legal means necessary to get this fire fighter reinstated, and fight for the right of fire fighters in Clarington and everywhere to speak out when they see a threat to public and fire fighter safety,” Schaitberger said.

The IAFF has been lobbying the Canadian government for years to fund haz-mat and weapons of mass destruction response training for fire fighters. Almost three years after the 9-11 attacks, the vast majority of Canada’s first responders – including those in Clarington – still have not been trained to safely and effectively protect citizens from the aftermath of a major disaster or chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological incident.

The International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, CLC, represents 267,000 professional fire fighters and emergency response personnel in North America, including 19,000 in Canada.  

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