Ahmad and other RIAC officials also vowed to investigate and possibly prosecute those interfering with airport affairs, following rumors that the departure of an employee on Aug. 13 cost the airport hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those who worked during the day should have stopped working.

Parent, president of Local 2873 Council 94, a union that represents about 113 employees, told the Globe that he only became aware of the possible layoff after the RIAC issued a statement to reporters.

Parent, who was recently re-elected as the union’s president, said: “The accusations are unfounded and frankly I will fight the allegations vigorously.”

He declined to comment further ahead of a hearing on the matter scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement, the RIAC alleged that Parent “repeatedly contacted prospective candidates to work at the RIAC and discouraged them from working at the airport.”

Those actions put the department at risk of not meeting federal security requirements, the statement claimed, adding that those contacted by Parent “have come forward to put their conduct in writing.”

RIAC officials also alleged that Parent admitted to calling potential employees.

“RIAC believes that, as an officer of the department, he knowingly and willfully engaged in efforts to sabotage airport operations and breached his fiduciary duty,” the statement said. “As an official of the Ministry, his actions amount to gross misconduct.”

According to authorities, during this time Parent earned more than $52,000 in overtime pay; This money was collected as a result of covering shifts left vacant due to vacancies in the department.

“As a lieutenant, he had direct influence over overtime shift scheduling and was therefore able to direct those shifts and their accompanying pay to himself,” the statement said. “In addition, Mr. Veli recently informed his superiors that he was carrying out this activity in his ‘personal capacity’ and not as the union president.”

However, according to union members, when vacancies need to be filled, the department rotates overtime and shifts are made in order of seniority. Supervisors, including lieutenants, assign shifts and adhere to that system, members said.

Parent’s possible dismissal is the latest flare-up between RIAC leadership and TF Green’s workforce.

Allegations about the airport’s work environment were contained in multiple anonymous letters sent this summer to the media, public officials, airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming that employees would quit on Aug. 13 if no action was taken to address these problems. like Warwick Sign It was first reported in August.

In the end, no workers walked out, and Parent said he was unaware of any union members responsible for the letters. Veli also drew attention to an article in the union contract that prohibits union members from going on strike.

Brittany Morgan, who manages RIAC’s legal affairs and human resources, said earlier this month that RIAC had hired a law firm to find out who was behind the letters and would likely file suit against “those who unduly interfered with our business affairs.”

Last month the union also voted to reject a new three-year contract with RIAC because the proposal would remove complaints rights when job descriptions change.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at [email protected].