Labor Board Rules on FDNY Retaliation

Nov. 16 -- Top Fire Department brass retaliated against two emergency medical services lieutenants due to their “union activity,” a labor board ruled, the Daily News has learned.

FDNY Lt. Douglas Rondon was “totally restricted” from duty for an entire year after he reached out to his union president for assistance on potential disciplinary charges.

At the same time, the union was upset with the FDNY over the department’s new Paramedic Response Unit, which pairs a paramedic with a paramedic lieutenant.

The so-called “Fly-Car” pilot program, first launched in the Bronx in 2016, uses FDNY SUVs with advanced-life-support equipment. It is designed to increase response times to emergency scenes.

But those vehicles are not used to transport patients – and requires staff to put in added work.

Uniform EMS Officers Local 3621 slammed the program, arguing that it should be stopped until details of the work shifts could be negotiated with the labor group.

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge.

Five days later, Rondon, a 23 veteran of the FDNY who never had any disciplinary charges, was assigned to a PRU that responded to a “possible seizure” call in an apartment on Nov. 14, 2016.

When Rondon and his partner arrived, the team concluded the patient was in cardiac arrest and “upgraded” the call status for added support.

As a result, an FDNY Engine Co. with approximately four firefighters came to the scene, as well as an ambulance with two paramedics.

Rondon, and his partner, left the apartment to get their equipment as the paramedics arrived.

The patient later died.

Division 2 Chief Alvin Suriel was furious they allegedly violated department regulations by failing to bring their equipment. He brought Rondon, and his partner up on disciplinary charges.

Vincent Variale, president of Local 3621, tried to intervene on their behalf, arguing the case should be handled informally instead of going to the department’s Bureau of Investigations and Trials.

Variale refused and the case dragged on for almost a year.

Over that time, Rondon was suspended for 20 days and later forced to work in the Medical Supply Unit where he was essentially blocked from overtime. The union argued those charges were far more severe than other staffers facing things like criminal charges.

The city’s Board of Collective Bargaining agreed last month, ruling the FDNY bosses retaliated against Rondon due to “union activity.”

Similarly, FDNY bosses retaliated against Lt. Ralph Francisco by allowing an emergency medical technician who threatened him and was transferred to come back to work at the same station. That move was done to intimidate Francisco, a union executive board member, according to the board.

The labor board ordered the FDNY to reinstate Rondon and to post notices of the decision in all major work hubs.

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