By Kenneth C. Crowe
The Times Union
Copyright 2008 The Hearst Corporation
TROY, N.Y. — The city firefighters union has asked its members to boycott overtime work at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s commencement Saturday.
Since RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson hasn’t responded to union requests to discuss public safety issues at the university, the firefighters won’t provide additional ambulance service when 12,000 people are expected at graduation ceremonies.
Troy Uniform Firefighters President David Paul said Tuesday the union is frustrated by Jackson and RPI’s failure to acknowledge concerns about dealing with the unusual hazards, such as laboratory chemicals and confined spaces, that firefighters face at the university or the killings at Virginia Tech last year and a previous fatal dorm fire at Seton Hall University.
“We just want a meeting. I don’t understand how they don’t want to communicate with the safety providers to their campus,” said Paul, who has written Jackson twice.
Paul advised Fired Chief Thomas Garrett in a letter that the union told its members not to sign up for the voluntary overtime, which would be paid by RPI. The extra work permits two advanced-life-support ambulances to be staffed by four paramedics during the graduation exercises at Harkness Field Saturday. The usual city fire and ambulance services will be on duty.
The only ambulance on duty on campus would be RPI’s, which can only provide basic life support in the event of an emergency. Paul said this action was a result of RPI not addressing the safety issues he raised in October and April in letters to Jackson.
“We feel it’s unwise to ignore the repeated requests of the fire personnel and emergency medical service personnel for the campus when we ask to meet about possible fire and safety issues at the college,” Paul said.
Jason Gorss, an RPI spokesman, said the university was unaware of the firefighters’ position.
“We have not received any notification of a disruption in our fire and emergency services planned for this Saturday’s commencement ceremonies. We did receive a letter in late April from the Troy Uniformed Firefighters, and we have every intention of responding to the appropriate officials in the city of Troy,” Gorss said.
Paul said, “There is no disruption. The usual fire and EMS protection to their campus will be provided.”
Garrett backs the stance taken by the 112 union members.
“I support the firefighters 110 percent in their attempt to meet with RPI on issues of mutual importance,” Garrett said.
The chief said since he had not yet read the letter from Paul regarding the overtime boycott, he would not comment on it.