Firefighter sues High Point Fire Department, alleges anti-union behavior

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — A High Point firefighter has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that his fire department has mistreated him due to his involvement in a union and his comments about working conditions in the city.

The lawsuit, filed by Robert Templeton on Aug. 9, claims that High Point Fire Department leadership has “disciplined Templeton, disparaged his character, and have now threatened to terminate his employment” because of his union activities.

Templeton is a 24-year veteran of the fire department and said in the suit he never had any issues at the High Point Fire Department until he became involved with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 673, of which he is the president. He claims within months of his appointment as union president, he was disciplined for issues that he said non-union firefighters do not get disciplined.

He also said that Chief Brian Evans told him he was “trying to screw the city.”

He said that the disparagement from the department and city is because he has spoken up in the past about “issues including low pay, poor retention, lack of safety equipment, and insufficient staffing.”

The lawsuit also alleges Templeton isn’t the only firefighter who has faced retaliation over work conditions, and that HPFD mistreats workers who raise questions about the status quo.

“Templeton is filing this action to address the hostility he and other members of IAFF Local 673 have been subjected to by defendants for years,” the lawsuit states. “Templeton is also filing this action to pursue meaningful change within the HPFD.”

Templeton hopes that this meaningful change will involve better treatment of the union-member firefighters.

His pay was lowered after an October performance review, which he called the “worst” of his career, that involved discipline issues that he had never been made aware of. He said that he was then transferred to a station that he alleges was known by firefighters as a “punishment station.”

He also alleges that HPFD’s fire chiefs were trying to discourage firefighters from joining the union or trying to convince union members to leave it.

“HPFD’s effort to harm and dismantle IAFF Local 673 has been part of an ongoing pattern and practice of anti-union behavior by the HPFD which includes, but is not limited to, disciplining past officers of IAFF Local 673 whenever they spoke up about matters of public concern,” the lawsuit states.

Templeton is seeking a permanent injunction against the fire department’s perceived retaliation against him for his union work and a court order to rescind the discipline he believes is retaliatory.

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