[sharktrager]

Not so fast. The rule just came in to effect, and impacts firefighters and policemen hired since 1988. That means the rules probably changed after he "signed on the dotted line".

I wonder if the governmental agencies were required to provide and pay for programs and aids designed to help the smokers quit. While I hate government programs, it seem to me that you should pay for it if you tell someone to do something.

I also think the heart disease issue is relatively week. If they are going to worry about heart disease they should require everyone to be fit and to maintain low cholesterol.

Besides. The guy's job entails inhaling smoke on a near daily basis. Lots of the things that burn in the average fire have toxins far more dangerous than cigarettes.

[Pontiac]

Not so fast. The rule just came in to effect

Not so fast yourself. While the article says that he is the first to be fired under the rule, it does not say this is a new law.

Your Freeper page does not have a local for you. Are from Mass. or are you just assuming that this is a new law?

My experience with such maters in the union world is that such provisions only apply to new hires after the rule goes into effect.