Four Reasons Why the Ethics Policy is a Disaster
In virtually all organizations it is the elected leadership who set the overall tone.
And, so it is at the International Association of Fire Fighters but the results are devastating.
The new ethics policy has more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese and is nothing more than a huge escape hatch for Our Deal Leader and his bought board to thumb their nose at ethical concerns.
They think we are all too stupid or complacent to notice, care or react.
The Final Say- For 97 years affiliate leaders meeting at the IAFF convention have charted our course and had the final say. Not any more. Under the new ethics policy, “The executive board shall have the final decision in the matter and no further appeals are allowed.” ODL and his bought board now have a license to do as they please.
No Outside Review- It’s very common for an ethics complaint to first be referred to an independent and objective third party to render an opinion on the validity of the concern. Not at the IAFF. The very group most at risk, the officers and the board, police themselves.
Members Only- Conflicts of interest and inside dealing very often involve an “outside” party or interest such as a vendor. For example, Harold Schaitberger’s (ODL) conflict was with a key IAFF-FC services provider. Under the policy, a vendor cannot report a possible ethics violation, even if they want to.
No Disclosure- With the foxes guarding the hen house they have come up with a system where their shenanigans are disclosed only to themselves. They are free to muck about and sweep it all under the rug.
An Ethical Titanic
Down the Tubes
Harold Schaitberger and his spineless and complacent board are weakening the IAFF as they gorge themselves on the trappings of office.
Sadly, state, provincial and local leaders seem happy to let them do it.
The new ethics policy does nothing more than “codify” their predatory behavior complete with permission to keep their actions secret from the membership.
That’s ODL’s way of doing business.
The bottom line is that you would only have the “balls” to create such a policy if you were convinced you could do exactly as you please.
Sadly, he can, at least for now.
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