HUNTINGTON BEACH : Union Firefighter Says City Retaliating

Curt Campbell, president of the Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn., charged this week that city officials are retaliating against him and two other top union leaders in the aftermath of long and rancorous contract talks.

Campbell says city officials have begun disciplinary action against three union leaders including himself in an effort to weaken the union. He said he and another firefighter have had disciplinary letters placed in their personnel files. Meanwhile, Campbell said, officials are considering docking a third fireman’s pay.

City officials have denied the allegations. However, they declined to discuss the case, citing employee privacy laws.

The two sides are locked in a dispute over staffing levels and possible changes in paramedic services.

Campbell said the three officers’ grievances will be taken up in October. But some will be discussed with Fire Chief Michael Dolder next week, Campbell said. Dolder is away on vacation, but Acting Chief Bill Cooper denied Campbell’s allegations that union leaders had been singled out for disciplinary action. “I can assure you that nothing is slanted at the (union) leadership.”

Cooper said he is prohibited from discussing the cases by employee privacy laws and is “disappointed” that Campbell discussed the cases publicly.

Campbell said a letter critical of his performance was placed in his personnel file after he criticized the department for failing to provide sufficient information to the news media about a major fire in Huntington Harbour in December. He called the letter “an attempt to shut me up.”

Campbell said a second firefighter, Capt. Guy Burnell, faces a loss of 120 hours pay for allegedly attending a negotiating session that Fire Chief Dolder had told him not to attend while he was working overtime.

In the past, Burnell had received a commendation for a rescue on a damaged oil platform off the coast.

Campbell said the third case involves Don Shusta, chairman of the negotiating committee. He said Shusta received a letter of reprimand for critical comments that he had made about the hazardous materials committee--comments that Campbell said were misinterpreted.

Philip Tamoush of the California Arbitration Assn. will hear remaining disputes over staffing levels and possible changes in the paramedic program in hearings scheduled Oct. 14 to 16 and Oct. 27 and 29. Unresolved grievances will be taken up during the five days of hearings, Campbell said.