• Past President Reports

Special Business

• Member ID cards must be presented at the door!
  Your official FDNY ID cards will be checked. Please have them out and ready prior to entering the meeting room. You will not be admitted without your ID.
• Security Benefits Fund (SBF) Help Table Today
  Members who require help regarding dental, prescription drugs, optical or any other benefits provided via the UFA SBF should visit the SBF table today. SBF personnel are there to help you.
• Delegate Education Seminar
  Registration at Recording Secretary/SBF Table Today You can submit your reservation forms and payment at the Recording Secretary/SBF Table today. Ask for Jimmy Dahl. See item #12 below for more Seminar info.
• Handouts Today
  
  -UFA Ad Campaign package at Trustee Tables
  -Safe Response info (at Health & Safety Table)

Today's Agenda

1. Possible Layoffs: Important Issues for All Recent Hires Addressed Today
The Executive Board welcomes all members who are attending their first union meeting today. Topics to be discussed are outlined in the following paragraphs. The floor will be opened to questions upon completion of the President's Report presentation.

2. Closings & Layoffs
The Department has said it intends to close 16 companies. Scheduled to be closed July 1st: 7 companies yet to be named, and 4 companies that have been closing at night (E4, E161, E271, L53). Additionally, 5 other companies yet to be named are slated to close on 1/1/10. The Department has not yet released a list. The City is required by law to notify City Council of the firehouses in intends to close 45 days in advance of any closing. Both the Fire Commissioner and Mayor have also said layoffs are a possibility.

3. Health Care Coverage Continuation
According to the U.S. Dept of Labor, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), which is Federal Law, outlines how employees and family members may elect continuation coverage (of health care) upon job loss (or if laid off). It also requires employers and plans to provide notice to its employees.

Relevant COBRA provisions, which are currently under our review, and UFA Security Benefits Fund coverage of prescription drugs, dental care and optical services, will be discussed today.

4. Seniority Calculation if Layoffs Occur
All calculation of eligible time is based on New York Civil Service law. The UFA has just received the 50+ page document it requested from the City which outlines the City's interpretations for seniority as it applies to layoffs. It is currently under review by the UFA counsel.

5. FDNY Headcount Overage
The Dept is currently 250 FFs over its official headcount. If the City closes 11 companies on July 1, as it has proposed, the over headcount number is estimated to rise to 500 FFs-further increasing the possibility of layoffs. The UFA has been on record for the past 18 months requesting the Dept to stay within its budgeted headcount. It has failed to do so. Remember, 5 additional companies are slated to close on January 1, 2010, which will inflate the over headcount number by another 110 FFs.

6. Response Times
The Fire Commissioner has testified that response times for individual companies are a main factor that the Dept used in determining which units to close.

7. Safe Response
Health & Safety Officer/Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Romaka reminds you to follow all safe response protocols issued by the Dept. These include, but are not limited to, FDNY Regulations Chapter 11 and FDNY Safety Bulletins #6, #9, #10, #27, and #71. Previous UFA Safety Messages that highlight and emphasize a safe response should also be reviewed! Pick up handout at the Health & Safety table today.

8. Productivity Meeting with the City & Fire Dept
The UFA Executive Board met with the City Labor Commissioner and the Fire Dept for the second time last month, on March 31st. The UFA made several recommendations for alternative budget cuts other than in field operations. Steve Cassidy will give an update today.

9. Manning Agreement
Commissioner Scoppetta stated in an interview on NY1 that FH closings could be averted if the UFA gives up the 5th FF on 60 engines. Studies conducted by Chief Vincent Dunn at the FDNY Fire Academy have demonstrated that units with 5 FFs get water on the fire up to 50 percent faster than 4 FF units on many of the building types typical to NYC. Obviously, Commissioner Scoppetta does not care about the safety of NYC Firefighters. (NOTE: In accordance with the RSOT Agreement, 137 engines are staffed with 4 FFs and the remaining 64 engines are staffed with 5 FFs). The City has asked the UFA to give up the 5th man on 60 engine companies. To our knowledge, the City has not asked for one single concession from any other union that represents persons employed by the FDNY. Steve Cassidy will update the members regarding this issue.

10. Ad Campaign: The Truth & Realities of Protecting New Yorkers
In response to an ongoing media assault on Firefighters - threats to close down fire companies, reduce manning, reduce EMS Staffing thus increasing work load of engine companies and the misinformation campaign about Firefighters pensions - the UFA has run full-page advertisements in every issue of The Capitol and City Hall since the beginning of March - to begin setting the record straight. These newspapers are widely circulated among elected officials in both City and State governments. The purpose is to inform our elected officials and correct inaccurate media reports. A special section of our ad campaign titled "The Truth & Realities of Protecting New Yorkers" headlines the UFA home page, and shows all Op-Eds and ads published to date. Pick up the UFA Ad Campaign package at your Trustee table today.

11. March 20th Additional Retro $$ & Salary Increases
Per Dept Orders, your March 20 paycheck, includes:

• Increase in Night Shift Differential, due to contract re-opener, (for 1st grade only) effective 7/31/06, 8/1/06 and 8/1/07 with retroactive adjustments covering 7/31/06 through 7/31/08. Payment also includes a 4% Night Shift Differential increase for all grades effective 8/1/08 with retroactive adjustments covering 8/1/08 through 2/28/09. Please note that an increase in Special Assignment Night Differential will be paid on a later date.
• Increase in Special Assignment Differential, due to contract re-opener, (for 1st grade only) effective 7/1/07 and 8/1/07 with retroactive adjustments covering 7/1/07 through 7/31/08. Payment also includes a Special Assignment Differential increase for all grades effective 8/1/08 with retroactive adjustments.

(UFA NOTE: Refer to Dept Order #18 and UFA 65-2 #22 for other retro information about your March 6 checks.) Inquiries may be submitted to the Bureau of Payroll in written form only.

12. Delegate Education Seminar:
Discount Deadline Has Passed!
Late Registration at Recording Secretary Table Today

Check the registration list at your Trustee table today to verify you are registered. If you are not on the list, ask for Jimmy Dahl at the SBF/Recording Secretary table today. Payment must have been received at the UFA by March 31st to receive your discounted rate (The UFA will do what it can to secure discounted rates for Delegates who submit payment today at the Recording Secretary/SBF Table). Seminar registration & hotel room reservations must be made by check only, payable to the 'UFA' (phone registration cannot be accepted), along with the proper form. If this can not be addressed today you'll need to make your room reservation by credit card directly with the hotel at the full-price per-night rate—if rooms are still available. If this is your first Delegate Educational Seminar, you can familiarize yourself by reviewing last year's agenda and program activity book on the UFA website at www.UFANYC.org. You can also check out the latest notices for this year's Seminar. Location/Dates: Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, Tuesday, May 19, 2009 thru Friday, May 22, 2009. The Seminar will take place in its entirety this year in the upstairs ballrooms, on the Convention Floor.

13. Delegate Seminar Topics: Poll Your Members
More than half of our members have 5 years or less on the job and depend heavily upon their Delegates for guidance and important information. Please insure you poll your members prior to attending the seminar so you may have answers to their questions when you return. Topics to be addressed include: UFA State of the Union Address, UFA media & PR strategies, Compensation Accrual Fund (your annuity investing), Deferred Compensation Plan (457,401k, & IRA), Disability Pensions, Retirement planning, UFA Dental/Optical/Prescription Drug plans, New Protective Gear, Cancer, Medical Office issues, UFA Criminal Counsel, Grievances & Improper Practices, How to be an Effective Delegate, 50% Indicator, Pension loans, ITHP, Roth IRAs, NYS College Savings Program, Health & Safety issues, Finding info in the Delegate Manual & on the UFA website, Safe Apparatus Response, Firefighter Legislation and Political action, Pension planning & prior City time by FDNY Pension Unit, and more. In addition, many representatives from health care companies, mortgage companies, financial advisors and others will have exhibit tables and be distributing literature. Contact your Delegate if you are looking for info. Seminar dates: May 19-22, 2009.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President