Friday, June 12, 2009

Firefighters say deposition proves their claim

By Ben Bauman

Topeka — The Topeka firefighters union has released a deposition which they say shows Chief Howard Giles is trying to break up their union.

In the deposition, shift commander Bob Martin - since retired - says he heard Deputy Chief Rick Pardee say Union President Kent Dederick and treasurer Randy Phillips were being transferred to separate locations because while stationed together they "had the opportunity to work on union business" and that two other union members "needed to be split up."

"What we believe happened in this case, and frankly we only believe it because we've had management members come forward and tell us this, is that certain transfers were made for the express purpose of making the union's job harder to do and in retaliation in fact for being very involved union officers." said Clint Patty, attorney for Firefighters Local 83.

We contacted the city for a response. Spokesman David Bevens declined comment, except to say the release of the deposition is another attempt by the union to call into question the professionalism of Chief Giles.

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