Conflict Continues Between Woodinville Fire Chief, Union

The ongoing tension between the Woodinville fire chief and firefighters has apparently resulted in breaking off regular “labor/management” communications at a time when the department is tackling a number of issues.

Both sides accuse the other of not participating in the process.

At the most recent board meeting of commissioners, Greg Ahearn, president of Woodinville Fire IAFF Local 2950, opened the public comments by reading a statement claiming that Chief I. David Daniels had cut off communication. (See the attached document.)

“Over the past few weeks the chief has chosen to withdraw from the Labor Management Initiative, canceled the bi-monthly labor management meetings, and canceled the bimonthly breakfasts between the chief and myself,” Ahearn read.

He cited several instances of what he said was the chief’s lack of collaboration.

Daniels sat quietly while Ahearn made his comments at the July 5 meeting.

Afterward, Daniels explained that he had ended the labor/management process because it wasn’t working. He said he’s been flooded with records requests from the union, and that the union president won’t just stop by his office to communicate.

He believes the union didn’t want to work with him even before he took the job nearly two years ago.

“There’s a major change in the way we do business, and some people are unhappy with that,” Daniels said.

He provided Patch with a copy of a memo (see the attached document) he wrote to the board of commissioners in May, outlining the conflict with the union and steps he and his staff had taken “toward repairing the relationship and moving forward in a positive manner.”

Daniels said he’s received more than 20 records requests from the local, and he said he has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union.

“The goal of this memo is not to suggest that all is lost, however, at some point, it would be nice if the Local could move forward in a ‘good faith’ effort to make things better,” Daniels wrote to the commissioners. “The energy they are spending being angry about the past is doing nothing to create a better future.”

Firefighters have criticized the way the department is managed, including new administrative hires. (Click here for previous coverage.)

Amid the conflict, meanwhile, the district is focusing on multiple issues, including:

•Trying to inventory and track all district equipment. Daniels and Commissioner Kevin Coughlin emphasized at the July 5 meeting that the district needs to know exactly what it owns before it can decide what it needs in the future. Daniels acknowledged that the process was “not going as well as we’d like.”

•Working toward reaccreditation.

•Preparing for another likely annexation, this time by Bothell, that would affect its territory.

Commissioner Tim Osgood said he’s concerned about the labor and management dispute and its effect on morale, but added, “We’re going to get it all worked out.”

“Morale’s kind of a fleeting thing. It can turn quickly, it can recover quickly.”