A former Solon city employee, who was fired and charged criminally for using city equipment on a lunch break, said Tuesday he’s being retaliated against for his efforts in trying to organize a union.
James Orosz was fired from his job as a service worker last June. Later, the city tacked on criminal charges after Orosz took a wood chipper home on a lunch break and cleared some brush nearby.
“For them to say we’re going to charge you with a criminal offense for doing your job is unbelievable,” Orosz said.
In Bedford Municipal Court, a Solon city attorney argued the charges were filed because the use of city equipment while off the clock was unsafe.
“He put himself at risk for his own safety,” attorney William Doyle told Bedford Municipal Court Judge Brian Melling in January, “And he put the city of Solon at risk, in terms of the liability.”
But during a hearing Tuesday, Judge Melling ruled against Solon, claiming since the city already fired Orosz, they were not allowed to punish him twice.
“Since the city has already imposed discipline under the civil penalty provision set out in the ordinance,” Judge Melling said, “It cannot theoretically bring a criminal case.”
Orosz said the termination and subsequent criminal charges had a chilling effect on efforts to unionize the service department, noting that those plans have since been scrapped.
“If we had a union in there, we would have had an arbitrator and a grievance procedure,” Orosz said.
News 5 made multiple attempts in person, by phone and email to contact Solon Mayor Susan Drucker, but she did not respond to those requests on Tuesday.
"Their way is the only way and if you disagree with it, they come after you,” Orosz said.
Orosz’ personnel file is free of any previous disciplinary action. He said he plans to try get his job back during a civil service hearing in May. He also said the ordeal has pushed him to collect signatures in preparation for a mayoral run.
