Feb 29, 2008 11:58 am US/Eastern
Stoughton Firefighters Rally In 'Unpatriotic Town'
Firefighters Claim Stoughton Is 'Most Unpatriotic Town In America'
STOUGHTON, Mass. (WBZ) ―
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Members of the Stoughton Firefighters Union are rallying Friday to declare the town "the most unpatriotic town in America."
The union is outraged over Stoughton's treatment of veteran firefighter Doug Campbell, who is fighting in Iraq with the Air National Guard.
While Campbell is away, Stoughton decided to trim some of his benefits, sparking a battle with the firefighters union.
"It's not about the union. It's not about the town. It's not about me," said Stoughton fire Chief David Jardin. "It's about Doug and his family and providing the best that we can for Doug while he's away."
When Campbell was deployed to Iraq last month, the town offered to pay his benefits package. But it excluded things like paid vacation and sick time.
Town officials argue that the firefighters are overacting. They say the town is only cutting out extra perks like a dry cleaning allowance and bonuses for not calling in sick.
"It's the town's position that paying the salary and the medical benefits is the fair thing to do, (and) that some of the additional benefits, like clothing allowances, and other benefits that the firefighters get are not really appropriate," said town manager Mark Stankiewicz.
But the union insists that everything stay the same.
"He's taken away from his family. He's taken away from his community," Jardin said. "I think there can be an agreement between both parties."
Federal law does not require employers to pay their employees while on military leave.
But it does require employers to guarantee our service men and women will have their jobs waiting for them when they return home.
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