Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0346.005 1996-1998 r Hawaii Firefighters' Association Hawaii Division Bob Bailey -Chairman June 17, 1997 Good Morning Committee Chair and Council members, c~~ My name is Bob Bailey of the Hawaii Firefighters Assoc. and I was requ ed to appear before you today to discuss the front page article in the Hawaii Tribune-I~ o~ L _ r-~ t a May 16th regarding the allegations of cheating during the promotional process. At this time, The Hawaii Firefighters Association has a grievance pending~n this matter. One of the remedies being sought is a rev~sierrof tlr~cand' lion ~ procedures. We have had many disc s wit ep -Fire Chief Ed Bumatay o ` ~ matter and at this point in time, I fe l that a workable solution may be amved at. Tide i~~ grievance also seeks a thorough investigation Into-dte-p otional activities of the F Department. The Department of Civil Service has an ongoing inves g o t is particular promotion process and as such, I believe it would be premature forme to comment on these allegations here today, However, as can be seen by the pending SHOPO law suit and the allegations made in this Firefighter promotions, The integrity of the promotional process being used is in question at this time. For many years now, Every time a promotion is made, allegations of improprieties arise. In talking with a lot of my members about their feelings on the integrity of the existing promotional process, some of the things they responded with are: 1, when a candidate who historigally barely passes the written examination suddenly makes the top five, suspicions azise'. hen members are told before an interview that certain peop a are going to be promoted because of their ties to others and they are, suspicions arises hen questions of an obscurq nature, which we refer to as "ringers", surfaces at the oral interview, suspicions arise When an individual is ailed and asked if he wants a certain position, and he ends up getting it, suspicions arise~en a Chief Officer is seen putting his arm around a candidates shoulder prior to an interview and asking him if he's "ready to come aboard", and this candidate gets the position, suspicions arise. And, when a promoted individual says "I wasn't supposed to get this promotion but,.." so and so "helped me". Then, it appears that promotions may not be based on the "merit system". The members that I represent are highly trained professionals who not only fight fires, but also respond through land, sea and air to answer the public's call for help in rescues and medical emergencies. They have pulled victims out of the jaws of death often risking their own lives in the process. They are proud of their profession and strive to maintain high morale within their units and their department. During promotions, their primary concern is that a fair process, free of potential compromise, be used so that they may compete on a level playing field. Anything less creates tension between members and undermines their faith in the process thereby having an adverse effect on their morale. B0. 3 4G ~ OS 1'11e It®. F / K. 1bt Presented F~ fit, Date JUN 17 199 Hawaii Firefighters' Association Hawaii Division Bob Bailey -Chairman EXISTING PROMOTIONAL PROCESS The promotional process consists of a written examination, which is ordered from an outside agency, to test a candidate's general knowledge and the duties of the position the candidate has applied for. As I understand it, this examination is forwarded to the Fire Chief to see which questions do not pertain to our jurisdiction and should be removed. The exam is sent back to and then administered by the Department of Civil Service. The test scores of the written examination aze combined with an applicant's points for training and experience to determine their final scores with the highest becoming number one, the next, number two and so on. When the Fire Chief needs to fill one or more vacancies through a promotion, he requests a list of candidates from the Departrent of Civil Service. The top five names are certified for the first position and another name for each additional position. These personnel then go through an "interview" process conducted by the Fire Department. This "interview", which is primarily an oral exam, consists of questions that have been developed by the Fire Department. The promotions are then determined by the scores the candidates receive at this "interview".