The man Shuff shoved:
Star-Bulletin staff
‘Unions took the
wrong course’The Hawaii Government Employees Association fought hard to get Richard Shuff's job back. But in the process, it tarred Shuff's victim -- who also is a member of the HGEA.
Francis Gora, the man Shuff shoved, has worked for the city for more than 20 years and is a member of HGEA Unit 2. Shuff, Gora's supervisor at the time, belongs to Unit 13.
Among other things, Dennis Chang, the lawyer representing Shuff and the HGEA, described Gora as a problem employee who had left work early, misused city equipment and failed in important assignments, according to the arbitrator's report in the case. The lawyer also claimed Gora had long been out to get Shuff fired and had given inconsistent and incredible accounts of the scuffle.
Gora, now a heavy-equipment supervisor, is outraged at a portrayal he says is false and offensive. That the union backed Shuff also appalls him.
"I asked for HGEA to help (but) the union said they had to represent him or else they would get sued," said Gora. "What about the victim? I feel so hurt. Because I pay my union dues. The unions took the wrong course."
Gora was especially angry that his name was dragged through the mud even after Shuff had pleaded "no contest" to harassing him. "This man basically admitted what he did, that he did shove me against that car, and still they spread all this junk. It's bad all the way around."
Shuff, through his attorney, declined to be interviewed.
Star-Bulletin reporters Christine Donnelly and
Jaymes K. Song contributed to this report.
