Union Calls for Investigation on Recent Firings of DC Inspectors

[Earth Bound Misfit]

Nearly all DC Commercial Inspectors to be Fired Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation
of Government Employees is calling for an investigation into the recent
firings of 18 housing inspectors and the impending firings of nearly all of
DC's commercial building inspectors. The Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs is claiming that the inspectors failed to obtain the
proper certifications in order to keep their jobs.

"This is a complete sham to cover up management failures," explained
Leisha Self, AFGE legal rights attorney responsible for the 14th District.
"It is no secret that DCRA is a mess. This is endemic to what we've seen in
other DC agencies and frankly we are concerned as there is no legal reason
why these inspectors should be fired. We are asking the DC City Council to
look into this."

--snip--

The ICC certification that is now being required by the DCRA tests
inspectors on code violations that do not apply in the District of
Columbia. As a result, inspectors are required to learn for this
certification test code provisions and violations that have nothing to do
with the performance of their duties in the District of Columbia. "To date,
DC has not adopted any of these ICC regulations for commercial inspectors.
There is simply no basis for requiring inspectors to learn and be tested on
codes that are not in effect in DC," explained Bunn.

"This is hurting, not helping, the District of Columbia to provide
better services to residents. When these experienced inspectors are put on
administrative leave, the DCRA hires contractors to conduct the
inspections. The great irony is that these contractors don't have the
certifications that our inspectors do - nor do they carry the ICC
certification for which our inspectors have been fired. This is a health
and safety issue for the entire city," said Bunn.

"By imposing certification standards that are not in compliance with
applicable laws, rules and regulations, DCRA clearly does not seek to have
the inspectors perform effectively. Instead, DCRA is looking for scapegoats
among inspectors for Agency management's failure to create and properly
manage the inspection program for the District. We are looking at every
remedial action available, including filing grievances, filing an Unfair
Labor Practices Complaint and taking appropriate action in DC courts in an
attempt to halt the wrongful acts of the DCRA," concluded Self.

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