Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
The recently terminated firefighter who heads the union representing workers at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is facing accusations of trespassing and taking work material without authorization.
The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) on Friday afternoon said Steven Parent allegedly gained unauthorized access to a secured area of T.F. Green at around 9:30 a.m. Parent was fired from his job as a lieutenant on Tuesday.
Officials claim Parent also verbally attacked the airport’s deputy fire chief and took airport property without authorization. The matter is under active investigation by airport police, said spokesperson Bill Fisher, adding a report will likely be released early next week.
“This incident is very unfortunate and has caused alarm here at the airport,” RIAC Senior Vice President of Operations Duc Nguyen said in a statement. “His retaliatory behavior is completely unacceptable and RIAC will protect employees from such threatening behavior.”
Parent, who worked at T.F. Green for more than a decade, became president of Local 2873 of RI Council 94 for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in 2019. The union represents roughly 120 employees. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Council 94 President Michael McDonald came to Parent’s defense, saying the now-fired firefighter was at the airport scheduled for a contract negotiation session and grievance hearings.
Airport workers have been working without a contract since the most recent one expired in June.
“Unfortunately, RIAC management has continuously twisted facts, distorted reality, and gone to great lengths to besmirch and impugn President Parent,” McDonald said in a statement. “While we remain 100% committed to performing our duties, and ensuring the public’s safety, we will not allow RIAC’s management to harass, bully, and intimidate our membership.”
RIAC announced Monday it sought to fire Parent after claiming he “knowingly and willfully engaged in efforts to sabotage airport operations” by discouraging people from applying for jobs at the airport and taking in overtime pay covering for the vacant positions.
Parent was fired after a closed-door meeting with airport officials Tuesday. Council 94 has filed an unfair labor practice claim with the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board, McDonald said in an interview.
“We are 100% defending Steve,” McDonald said.
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