Disregard

Deciding to develop or not to develop a comprehensive social media program for the Buffalo Fire Department will have stakeholders from within and outside of the department. A program which involves the department and is designed to engage the general public will have interest from various stakeholders. 

Fire Department Employees:  The firefighters of the Buffalo Fire Department are represented by the International Association of Firefighters local 282.  The local is designed to represent the firefighters in issues with the management of the department.  The local, depending on the recommendation, may support or oppose the plan.  Rules and regulation which subject their members to discipline are not met with open arms. However, understanding rules are necessary, if the recommendations are not too restrictive and are written  based on best practices and current case law, the union would support the recommendations since they would give their members guidance on what online behavior is and is not acceptable and makes clear what management may be allowed to impose discipline for rather than being subject to the whim of the Fire Chief.  

Fire Department management: Managers within the department would support the establishment of a social media program since it would provide them guidance when dealing with issues arising from employees use of the social media platforms. Most likely members of management would also be subject to the new policies included in the program so they too would have clarity on the issue. 

City of Buffalo law office:  In principal the law office would support the new social media program. Matters of discipline for employees as well as first amendment right need to be clear when grievances are filed by members of local 282.  Without a well defined policy,, the law office would have difficulty defending discipline issued to members by management. This is not to say the law office would support the recommendations out of hand without their input.  First amendment issues have arose between municipalities and users of the social media, specifically about the municipality deleting comments made by the public on the department’s social media profiles.  The law office would certainly only back a program which would have policies protecting the city from law suits.

Residents of the city:  In principal, residents of the city would support the recommendations to implement a comprehensive social media program.  The residents would have an increase in the amount of information from the department, and they would get to know those who protect them in their neighborhoods and would see what the day to day activities of the department are.  Residents may also appreciate safety reminders from the department since their daily lives can be busy and a reminder to change their smoke alarm battery for example may be useful while they are looking in their Facebook newsfeed. 

Buffalo FireFighters – fighting fires in Buffalo. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://buffalofirefighters.com/