Public Case No. UC 1982-001
(Cross References AC 1988-028 and UC 1990-022)International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2861 v.
City of Neosho, Missouri
IAFF filed a petition to represent employees of the Neosho Fire Department. The City first argued that all of the employees sought by the union were also Newton County Deputy Sheriffs, and thereby excluded under ยง105.510. The Board, however, noted that Neosho does not employ them as Deputy Sheriffs, and therefore, they are not excluded by the statute.
The City also argued that the position of Captain is supervisory. The Board noted that Captains have no authority to hire, fire, promote, or transfer employees. Furthermore, they primarily supervise activities, not employees. Finally, the direction of employees at the fire scene requires little discretion, since the Fire Fighters are well trained and experienced.
The Board did exclude the Secretary from the bargaining unit, based on a lack of community of interest. They based the decision entirely on the dissimilarity between the work Fire Fighters do and the work done by the Secretary.
Date Issued:August 26, 1982