close
close

RI airport leaders fire TF Green Union chairman

RI airport leaders fire TF Green Union chairman

Council 94 has already filed an unfair labor practice claim with the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board, the union said.

“The dismissal of a sitting union president, whose speech is a protected joint activity, is illegal,” Michael McDonald, president of Council 94, said in a statement. “Council 94 will combat the airport’s illegal and intimidating tactics in every available forum, which violate Rhode Island and federal labor laws.”

RIAC’s announcement came weeks after Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of RIAC, denied allegations that his leadership has cultivated a toxic work environment and fueled employee turnover at the travel hub. blamed union leadership and disgruntled workers for toxicity among the airport’s 150 employees.

Ahmad and other RIAC officials also vowed to investigate and possibly charge those interfering in airport affairs after they say an employee strike on August 13 cost the airport hundreds of thousands of dollars just because external contractors were present. if employees had stopped working.

Parent, president of Local 2873 Council 94, the union that represents about 113 workers, told the Globe Monday evening he only became aware of his possible dismissal after RIAC issued a statement to reporters.

“The allegations are false and of course I will vigorously fight the allegations,” Parent said.

After Tuesday’s hearing, Parent, who was recently re-elected president, said in an interview that he will continue to serve in his role with the union and “exercise all my rights.”

“I sit as union president and oppose Iftikhar Ahmad. He doesn’t lead me,” Parent said. “…I push back and I suffer the wrath of pushing back.”

He added, “What they’ve done, okay, is they’ve said to the rest of the grassroots of Local 2873, ‘We’ve got the man at the top. So what do you think we can do with you?’”

RIAC alleged that Parent “repeatedly contacted potential candidates for employment at RIAC and discouraged them from working at the airport.”

These actions would put the department at risk of failing to comply with federal safety requirements, the statement said, adding that people contacted by Parent “have come forward to document his conduct.”

RIAC officials also alleged that Parent admitted to calling potential employees.

“RIAC believes that as an officer of the department, he knowingly engaged in efforts to sabotage airport operations and breached his fiduciary responsibility,” the statement said. “As an officer of the department, his actions amount to gross misconduct.”

During that time, Parent earned more than $52,000 in overtime — money he collected as a result of taking over shifts left vacant due to empty positions within the department, according to officials.

“As a lieutenant, he had direct influence over the scheduling of overtime hours and was therefore able to direct these services and the associated payments to himself,” the statement said. “Additionally, Mr. Parent recently informed his superiors that he was conducting this activity in his ‘personal capacity’ and not as president of the union.”

However, according to union members, when vacant shifts need to be filled, overtime within the department is assigned on a rotating basis and shifts are offered in order of seniority. Supervisors — including lieutenants — assign shifts and adhere to that system, members said.

The Globe has obtained the two letters submitted during Tuesday’s hearing in support of RIAC’s decision to fire Parent.

One describes how Parent allegedly told a perspective employee in March 2022 that “he didn’t know why anyone would want to work at the TF Green Airport Fire Department” or something to that effect.”

The other, dated Oct. 1, described an interaction Parent reportedly had in April when he asked someone if an incoming employee knew “what kind of environment he’s going into?”

McDonald said the union “will not stand idly by and allow our members to be publicly disparaged or punished without cause.”

“Council 94 will now take all appropriate contractual and/or legal steps to protect our members from RIAC,” McDonald said.

Duc Nguyen, RIAC’s senior vice president of operations, said in a statement Tuesday that Parent’s termination was “due to his failure to meet his fiduciary obligations.”

“Board 94’s assertion that Mr. Parent should be allowed to engage in this conduct under the guise of ‘protected activity’ is a premise that RIAC fundamentally rejects,” Nguyen said. “Union membership does not give someone an ‘invisible cloak’ to disrupt our operations or public mission.”

The possible termination of the contract by parents is the latest flare-up between RIAC leadership and TF Green’s workforce.

Allegations about the airport’s work environment were included in several anonymous letters sent this summer to the media, government officials, airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming that employees would leave their jobs on August 13 if action was not taken to tackle these problems. as The Warwick Beacon first reported in August.

No employees ultimately walked out, and Parent has said he is not aware of any union member responsible for the letters. Parent also pointed out a clause in the union contract that prohibits union members from quitting work.

Brittany Morgan, who is responsible for RIAC’s legal and human resources affairs, said earlier this month that RIAC has hired a law firm to find out who was behind the letters and possibly file a lawsuit against “those who compromised our business relationships.” unlawfully disrupt.”

Last month, the union also voted to reject a new three-year contract with RIAC after the proposal would have removed the right to complain when job descriptions are changed.

McDonald said Tuesday that the union does not condone or sanction any work stoppages and said it would “continue to negotiate in good faith.”

“RIACs have consistently acted in bad faith, executed contracts to replace employees, made unsubstantiated accusations and spread rumors,” McDonald said. “Public transit officials and the RIAC board owe the public a higher level of service and fairness.”

Nguyen has denied these claims.

“None of these statements are true or accurate,” he said. “Regardless of today’s unsubstantiated claims, we will continue to negotiate in good faith at the negotiating table.”

This story was updated with new information after Tuesday’s hearing.


Christopher Gavin can be reached at [email protected].