Omaha jail worker ordered reinstated (fired for something he didn't say)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10485571

Published Wednesday November 12, 2008
Omaha jail worker ordered reinstated
BY JOE DEJKA
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A federal arbitrator has reinstated an Omaha city jail worker fired after he allegedly told an ill inmate to "Go in there, lay down and die."

The inmate, Alexander Simoens, 47, was eventually taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where he died two days later.

Joachim Dankiw was fired Dec. 14, 2007. He appealed his firing to an arbitrator, who was appointed through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an agency that mediates labor disputes.

In a decision released Monday, the arbitrator found that the city fired Dankiw "without just cause."

The arbitrator, Sherry Wetsch, ordered that the city reinstate Dankiw with full back pay, fringe benefits and a restoration of his seniority. Dankiw had worked at the jail for 17 years.

Tim Dowd, attorney for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Local 251, the city civilian employees union, said the arbitrator found that Dankiw never made the offensive comment.

FULL story at link.

I am a member of Local 251.

[Love Bug]

1. Good for him!

I get sick of seeing people fired for bullshit reasons.

[atreides1]

2. How did the arbitrator reach that conclusion?

Unfortunately there was nothing in the story to indicate how the arbitrator was able to conclude that the statement was never made.

When you consider that the chief witness is dead, it's kind of difficult to make an intelligent decision based on all of the facts.

[Omaha Steve]

3. The quote was from an inmate (with an agenda?)

Other workers in the area AT THE TIME of the supposed incident have said from day one, he never said it. The city wanted scapegoats for the death. They had ignored several groups on recommendations for inmate safety for years.