Local 3128 says it voted overwhelmingly in February to oppose Chief Dante Suarez over alleged hostile behavior and retaliation, as Suarez sues the city and mayor claiming discrimination and wrongful suspension

By Danielle Ray
Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG, Mass. — Fitchburg Permanent Fire Fighter’s Association Local 3128 union released a statement this week that it took a vote of no confidence eight months ago against Fitchburg Fire Department (FFD) Fire Chief Dante Suarez.

Mayor Sam Squilla confirmed in March that Suarez had been put on administrative leave and an FFD member would be serving as acting fire chief while an “external investigation is ongoing,” as reported in the Sentinel & Enterprise.

| MORE: Why good firefighters stay — and what finally pushes them out

According to the Local 3128 union statement, the vote was completed on Feb. 5 with all union members voting. It overwhelmingly passed to bring a vote of no confidence against Suarez for the following reasons the union said in the statement:

• “Repeated violations of common bargaining practices that have not only violated our contract but also state and federal law.
• Creating irrational policies that at times make our members and the public less safe.
• Displaying erratic, intimidating, and inappropriate behavior towards members through texts, memos, and confrontational meetings.
• Clear retaliation towards elected union officials.
• Selective and unequal application of discipline.
• Chief Suarez has cost our union in time and money in attorney fees.”

“This union takes no joy in writing this letter or having conducted this vote,” the statement said. “We have pride[d] ourselves over the years on being able to work with management and finding common ground in our differences. We feel however that we have exhausted every option in trying to work with Chief Suarez . We believe he has created a hostile working environment for our members. This has caused high levels of stress in our members with some feeling intimidated and have expressed a fear of retaliation.”

The statement that is not dated was shared in the Discussing Fitchburg Now Facebook group on Oct. 6 . The Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) also shared the statement on their Facebook page the same day with this message — “Taking a vote of no confidence in a Fire Chief is never an easy decision. The PFFM stands with Fitchburg Firefighters Local 3128 .”

It was announced less than two months ago that Suarez is suing the city and mayor, as reported in the Sentinel & Enterprise.

According to civil complaint court documents filed Aug. 21 in Worcester Superior Court, he alleges he was placed on administrative leave in March pending an external investigation because he spoke out against Mayor Sam Squailia, with a press release issued by Regan Communications Group reporting that he is claiming she left the city without a functioning emergency notification system.

The civil complaint also alleges that Squailia “acted in a discriminatory manner toward city employees who are persons of color and undermined the advancement of non-white employees.”

“Squailia suspended Fire Chief Dante Suarez — stripping him of his position, livelihood, and reputation — because he consistently opposed her decision to jeopardize the safety of residents by eliminating the city’s emergency alert system, according to a court filing,” the press release states.

At that time Squailia called his allegations “very disappointing” and said they “are completely false.”

“As this is a personnel matter under active investigation, I cannot comment further,” she said in August.

Squailia said on Oct. 7 that she is aware of the no vote of confidence taken by Fitchburg Permanent Fire Fighters Association Local 3128

“I take the concerns raised by our firefighters seriously. The union has reported that all members participated in the vote and that it passed overwhelmingly,” she said. " Chief Suarez was placed on paid administrative leave while an independent external investigation is completed, and the city is committed to a fair and thorough process without disruption in service to the community and while protecting the rights of all parties involved.”

She went on to say they “expect to receive the investigator’s findings very soon.”

“Until that investigation is complete, I do not want to prejudge its conclusions or comment on specific allegations that could affect the process or any related legal or personnel matters,” Squailia said on Wednesday afternoon. “I respect our firefighters and every employee who works for the City of Fitchburg . Every employee deserves to be treated fairly, equitably and with respect, and to have concerns addressed through a process they can trust.

“There are times in leadership when the easiest decision and the right decision may not be the same,” she continued. “My responsibility is to follow the facts, respect due process, and make decisions that are fair to our employees and to the city, even when those decisions may be difficult.”

As of press time, a request for a comment and additional information from the Fitchburg Permanent Fire Fighter’s Association Local 3128 had not been answered but Regan Communications Group shared this quote from Suarez about the situation.

“While disappointed with the vote taken by the union more than eight months ago, it is clearly politically motivated and based upon false accusations,” said Suarez, who is still listed as the fire chief on the Fitchburg Fire Department website. “I remain steadfastly committed to the public safety of the people of Fitchburg and the best interests of the men and women of the Fitchburg Fire Department. I look forward to a fair and objective hearing in a court of law that will substantiate my claims against the city and mayor and result in a reinstatement as Chief of the Fitchburg Fire Department .”

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