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Friday, September 24, 1999

Hurricane no-shows are fired
10 workers dismissed; others are disciplined
By James A. Suydam
Caller-Times

D. Garcia

The ax fell Thursday for 10 essential city employees who City Manager David Garcia said essentially let their community and co-workers down by not reporting for work when Hurricane Bret threatened the Coastal Bend last month.
   Garcia sent out letters to 10 employees telling them that they have been fired for failing to show up for work when he and the community most needed them. Two employees resigned.
   "It's never easy to fire somebody, particularly long-time employees," Garcia said. "But if when I need these employees the most they're not here, then that's a major problem."
   Last month, 40 employees received letters notifying them of the city's intent to discipline them for their hurricane no-show. City officials declined to release names of the employees, but said that they worked in the street, solid waste, gas, wastewater, water, building maintenance, storm water, aviation, police and fire departments.
   City officials previously had said that at least 67 employees would receive the letters, but later scaled back that number after realizing that 21 park and recreation department employees were non-essential and that others counted absent had worked, said Cynthia Garcia, director of human resources.
   Of that 40:

10 were fired.

Two resigned.

Seven received four-week suspensions.

11 received two-week suspensions.

Two weren't punished.

Seven, including two police officers and a firefighter, still are being evaluated.
   An assistant department head, who, unlike the others, isn't a civil servant, has yet to receive a final letter notifying him of the city manager's decision. The city manager wouldn't release the name of the assistant department head, who is an at-will employee.
   Cynthia Garcia wouldn't say Thursday what action would be taken in the case of the assistant department head, but said that the city attorney's office was working on a letter specifically for him.
   Civil service appeals
   All of the civil service employees will have the opportunity to appeal the decisions, but will be punished while the appeal is being processed.
   David Garcia said the two employees who weren't punished made good faith efforts to be available. One sat home waiting for the call to duty, but his boss didn't have his phone number and the call never came. Another left his home for a hotel when water started leaking in, and left a detailed message on his answering machine notifying his boss where to find him. For some reason, city officials never reached him at the hotel, David Garcia said.
   Only one employee didn't try to excuse his decision to flee town, said Cynthia Garcia, who isn't related to the city manager.
   "He came in here and said he knew he had to work, but he went anyway," she said. "He felt it was in his best interest."
   David Garcia described the punishments as harsh, but said they reflect the importance of the employees' duties during an emergency.
   Firings after Allen
   The city's actions are not unprecedented. In 1980, when Hurricane Allen hit, 40 essential city employees did not show up for work. .Most of the workers were in the city's street department. Four of the 40 were fired and the rest were otherwise disciplined.
   The employees all signed on when they were hired as essential employees, promising to come to work during hurricanes and other emergencies, Cynthia Garcia said.
   Each year, just before hurricane season starts, essential employees sign documents saying they understand the policy.
   About 1,500 of the city's more than 3,600 employees are designated as essential employees.
   "The community looks to its public employees to be there when they're evacuating, leaving their homes, in a time of crisis," David Garcia said. "We need to protect their lives and their property and I need all of the employees there doing their jobs.
   "If people don't show up, it puts a burden on the rest of the employees," he said. "We need people there during a crisis and there's no excuse for not showing up."
   Workers had excuses
   But that's not how most of the employees feel, Cynthia Garcia said.
   "Everyone has a reason," Cynthia Garcia said. "They don't see anything wrong with what they did. "Each one of them has family and each one feels like they didn't do anything worth discipline," she said.
   David Garcia said that feeling among the employees is a problem.
   "Some of the employees feel that it's optional, that their own personal needs take precedence over the community needs," he said. "The reality is, when you sign on with the city of Corpus Christi, you basically assume a responsibility that requires you to basically leave your family, report to work and protect the community."



Staff writer James A. Suydam can be reached at 886-3618 or by e-mail at suydamj@caller.com

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