2025-Portland Firefighters IAFF Local 740 vs. City of Portland, ME

Portland Firefighters IAFF Local 740 and Attorney Leah Marie Barrault, along with the invaluable assistance of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine, overturned the demotion of one of its Lieutenants. An arbitrator found that the former Fire Chief did not have just cause to demote a member of Local 740 who had elected to use his sick time in order to tend to his mental health. In her award, the arbitrator found that the City had failed to establish by substantial evidence that the Grievant violated the Department sick leave policy. She also found that the Department had not been consistently applying this policy to other firefighters. The City has been ordered to reinstate the Grievant to the rank of Lieutenant and pay back all lost wages and benefits. See full case below.