Glen Lake firefighters: the union, the grievance, the fallout, and the implication

By Linda Alice Dewey
Sun contributor

Disagreement prevails within the Glen Lake Fire Department (GLFD) over whether the firefighters should have organized one year ago. They filed a grievance a week later, leaving many to wonder why. So, when Glen Arbor Township and Local 5086 of the International Association of Fire Fighters finalized their first contract on Sept. 1, 2016, people wondered if the issues behind the unionizing and grievance were resolved. And how would this affect the community?

Glen Lake Fire Chief John Dodson doesn’t believe there were any problems to begin with and no reason to organize. However, explains past Local 5086 president Lt. Bill Parker, rumors that several township administrators might be stepping down were swirling by the end of 2015. Eventually, Parker points out, “three of the five board members did end up switching over.” The union’s second stated reason for organizing was to give the firefighters a voice, as personified by Parker and Sheehan in this article. More on that below.

As far as the grievance is concerned, Dodson and former Glen Arbor Township Supervisor John Soderholm say it was basically just a misunderstanding. “I didn’t feel there was anything,” confesses Soderholm. “It was just a matter of sitting down and talking about it.” Dodson says the issue was unrelated budget cuts that were announced right after they unionized. “They felt it was done in retaliation to forming the union,” said Dodson, which would be an unfair labor practice. Dodson says that he explained to them that this is something done every year, and eventually the firefighters just let it go.

But that’s not the way it happened at all, says Parker. “In January, we announced we were organizing,” he explains. “Then, in the January township board meeting, the changes were announced” by the board. One change had to do with salary steps, measured by years served along with performance evaluations, which would align the GLFD salary scale with other fire departments in northern Michigan. This had already been agreed upon, but now the township was saying it would only make partial changes.

The other issue, per Parker, was guaranteed vacation time. “Before we organized,” he says, “we were able to turn in half our time to be guaranteed. When we organized, they said they couldn’t guarantee it anymore.” Does Parker feel this was in retaliation? “Absolutely,” he answers. “I still feel it was in retaliation. You announce one day; and a week later all these changes were going to happen.”

The new contract gave the fire fighters the step changes they wanted, along with guaranteed vacation time, so the union dropped the grievance. The contract is binding through August 31, 2019.

The township had a new problem, however. Its legal budget is $750 for the year. “Historically, we have never gone over budget for legal,” says Dodson. “Now, our legal expenses for this year are probably in excess of $23,000,” which will be continued over to next year, he says.

Parker does not feel the union is responsible for the high cost for the township. “We didn’t spend anywhere close to that amount of money,” he states. The township had its attorney attend all meetings, he says; the union, which spent around $2,000 in legal fees, did not.

In addition to all of this, last month, two lieutenants of the 15 fire fighters on the team left their positions, one directly due to the union. Lt. Parker has moved to become deputy director of the county’s emergency 911 services. Parker will stay with GLFD on a part-time basis, so he can pitch in fighting fires when needed.

The other lieutenant who stepped down last month, Eric Dubord, did not join the union and does not have to pay the $60/month dues. He did refuse, however, to pay the non-member’s required union service fee of $22.70/month. So, rather than being terminated, Dubord offered his resignation Dec. 1 and will also move to part-time status.

Dodson deeply regrets the loss of the “top-notch” senior fireman. Sheehan states, “Eric left on good terms … He had tons of conversations with all of us. He had no hurt feelings … He just doesn’t believe in someone telling him he has to pay a fee.” Sheehan says the rest of the fire fighters respect that.

Initially, four of the original 15 full-time GLFD firefighters voted against joining the union last January. Of the current 13 left, 12 belong to the new local. Dodson is looking to fill both positions, but maintains these temporary vacancies do not affect service to the community.

Meanwhile, Sheehan feels things are going well at the station. “The smoke is settling,” he says, an affirmative remark, coming from a fireman. But Dodson feels unionization has hurt the firefighters as an entity within the community. Many citizens don’t understand. In fact, several benefactors who did not donate to the GLFD this year expressed their displeasure to Dodson about the new union.

Dodson laments. The community loved the fire department, he says. It turned out for all its events and supported it financially. “All of a sudden,” he says, “they form the union, which does them more harm than good. Some of them are starting to see it.”

Sheehan laughs in response, saying everyone that wanted to be in the union is happy to be in the union. In fact, the firefighters are even “more happy and glad” now about organizing than they were in the beginning. Morale is up. Things are in place that support them. They are proud that Glen Lake has joined the 95% of unionized fire departments in the state. They can access union health benefits, safety trainings, speakers, seminars and networking throughout the country. “That just makes Glen Lake so much better,” he exclaims. In addition, Local 5086 is forming a 501(c)3 nonprofit that will not compete with a similar nonprofit, but can offer community events or functions like raffles, blood pressure checks, whatever they feel may benefit the community.

So how does all of this affect the services provided by the GLFD? It won’t, says Dodson. They’ll get the same quality service they always have. You can count on it.

“It really doesn’t affect the community member at all,” says Sheehan. Then he adds, “people think we’re going to want more money, more benefits. That’s not it. This just put another voice in their court. It goes back to the whole checks and balances thing. You have two voices looking out for you—the chief’s and the firefighters. Now you have a chance to hear both.”