Endicott Firefighter Denied Sick Bank Hours

6/5/2012 (Updated 11:49:40 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

Members of Endicott Fire Department are giving up sick days to help out a sick co-worker, but they are being told "not so fast."

Members of Local 1280 have donated almost 260 hours of sick time to 17 year veteran firefighter Dana Stockton.  He's currently on leave due to a battle with cancer.

Stockton has been rejected for hours from the sick bank, which is a collection of hours accrued by former firefighters.

Fire department officials accuse Stockton of abusing sick days, and the union is outraged.

"What was offered as evidence in the hearing for abuse was 27 occurrences over a 6 year period that works out to about 5 days a year.  The contractual stand is 12 occurrences a year," said Endicott Firefighters Union Paul Higgins.

In response, Fire Chief Stephen Hrustich said, "They followed the collective bargain agreement and that was the outcome.  It's a personnel matter that can't be discussed."