Union Sues City After Seven Boston Firefighters Quit Over EMT Rule
BOSTON (CBS) - The firefighters union is taking the city of Boston to court after seven newly-hired Boston firefighters resigned rather than be fired.
They stepped down after the city threatened to enforce a 15-year-old rule that requires new hires to become state EMT certified within their first year on the department.
Calling the lawsuit frivolous, Mayor Menino defended the city's decision to enforce the rule.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
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"We're just trying to protect the firefighters and protect the public," Mayor Menino told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe. "It'd be a liability issue for the Fire Department and the city of Boston."
The Firefighters Union is suing to get those firefighters back on the force. The union says the department has never before enforced the requirement.
Menino says the city will rehire those firefighters once they complete their certification.
