Taylor Six
Lexington Herald-Leader
(TNS)
A federal grand jury recently awarded two former Kentucky firefighters $1 million after they were fired for forming a union.
Jamie Bottom and Derrick Steele received the award July 18 after a Lexington jury determined they were unlawfully fired from the Harrodsburg Fire Department in 2023.
Soon before they were fired, Steele, a captain, and Bottom, a lieutenant, were elected to leadership positions of a newly formed union that represented the department.
“This verdict sends a clear message: Workers have a fundamental right to union representation,” said Edward Kelly, general president for the International Association of Fire Fighters, a union that represents firefighters nationwide. “This was a tremendous win for our members and families.”
For several months before they were fired, Steele and Bottom met with members of the IAFF and the Kentucky Professional Firefighters Association to discuss how to form a local chapter.
They sought to form the union to address issues including low staffing levels, lack of adequate training and budgetary problems.
With the support of their colleagues and the fire commissioner, they went to the city commission, according to court documents.
But their efforts were “swiftly met with animosity,” according to the lawsuit. Though they had the blessing of Commissioner Missy Banks, the city clerk and city attorney refused to allow Steele and Bottom to speak at a commission meeting.
Council member Marvin Isham told the pair he was not a fan of unions and did not respond to their concerns about not being allowed to speak at the meeting.
Bottom and Steele formed the union anyway, but they say the decision led to a “witch hunt” from now-former Mayor Scott Mosely.
Moseley began to interrogate other firefighters about whether Bottom and Steele pressured or hazed them into joining.
Despite having no disciplinary record, Bottom and Steele were fired March 13, 2023. According to the mayor, the men were fired “for cause.”
The two men sued for violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendment and wrongful termination.
A jury rewarded Bottom and Steele $500,000 apiece.
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