• Past President Reports

Special Business

• (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.
• Items To Pick Up Today
  *Salary Chart Package
  *Special 65-2 #6, ITHP Waiver / 50% Indicator
  *Special 65-2 #7, Deferred Compensation Plan
  *Special 65-2 #8, 2009 Tax Year Issue

Today's Agenda

1. Next Union Meeting March 4th, JFK Holiday Inn
The next Union Meeting location has been scheduled here for Thursday, March 4 at the JFK Holiday Inn located at 144-02 135th Ave. Jamaica, NY 11436. Map. Please note the meeting will take place on the first Thursday in March, not March 11. Please insure that these dates are adjusted on all your personal and firehouse calendars.

2. Return Your Company Roster Info Forms!
Delegates picked up these forms at the October Union Meeting. The return date has passed. Delegates who have still not returned the form are asked to return it as soon as possible with each member's cell #, email address and chauffeur certification level. Your information will be used by the UFA for important notifications. Fax to Joseph Miccio, Recording Secretary at 212-683-4359.

3. New UFA "Info Faxes"
Most events will no longer be listed on "65-2 Faxes." Effective last month, most events formerly listed on 65-2 Faxes began faxing to all FHs under a masthead titled "Info Fax." UFA Info Faxes have a separate numbering sequence from 65-2s. Official UFA and Union business information will continue to be published in 65-2 Faxes. Both 65-2 and Info Faxes are available here on the UFA website.

4. Fire Marshal Representative Election Ballot Count Tomorrow
Fire Marshal Representative Election Ballots will be counted tomorrow morning at the American Arbitration Association under the oversight of the Election Committee, which is comprised of one member representing each borough and the Recording Secretary. The results will be certified and announced later that day. There are 4 candidates. In accordance with the UFA Constitution, the winner must receive greater than 50% of all votes cast. If a run-off between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes becomes necessary, runoff ballots will mail on February 16 and will be counted on March 3.

5. City Budget Cuts Reported
On 1/29, the NY Post reported, "the Fire Department faces the loss of 400 firefighters through attrition, the possible closing of as many as 20 fire companies..." and, "asked whether that could lead to longer response times, Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano responded, 'It could. Less firehouses will have an operational impact on the city,' he said." The Daily News reported, "Bloomberg's plan relies on $1.3 billion in state funds that Gov. Paterson has pledged to withhold. Without them, Bloomberg vowed to fire 3,150 cops, 1,050 firefighters and 8,500 teachers." It further reported "the city would close 20 fire companies, up from the 16 Bloomberg wanted to shut down last year but were saved by a transfer of funds from the City Council. The FDNY would also eliminate the fifth firefighter from 60 engine companies."

Steve Cassidy met last week with James Vacca, the former Chair of the City Council Fire & Criminal Justice Committee to discuss strategy to avert cuts to the FD. Steve also met with Fire Commissioner Cassano and Chief of Department Kilduff to discuss possible alternatives to closing FHs and/or layoffs. If viable alternatives cannot be reached, the UFA will do exactly as it did last year when the mayor called for closing 16 FHs and layoffs. We will run aggressive ad campaigns, support the effected communities (45 day notice is required by the City before closings take place), and continue to meet with the City Council and other elected officials to ensure they do everything to stave off cuts to FDNY operations. The UFA will testify at the City Council hearings regarding FD closures.

6. James Zadroga Bill Update
The Washington Bureau of NY Daily News reported on January 28, "The Obama administration stunned New York's delegation yesterday, dropping the bombshell news that it does not support funding the 9/11 health bill. The state's two senators and 14 House members met with Health and Human Services Secretary" just hours before the President delivered his State of the Union Address. Instead, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said President Obama would more than double the budget for treating ill responders to $150 million in 2011. UFA Health & Safety Officer Bill Romaka will give an update today. The UFA continues to address this issue directly with elected officials and with the IAFF. See attached UFA letter to the NY Congressional Delegation media clip and Press Release.

7. File CD-72 Within Proper Time Limits
UFA Health & Safety Officer Bill Romaka reminds the membership of the importance of filing a CD-72 any time you are injured-in a TIMELY fashion. This has taken on added importance with the advent of the computerized CD-72. You must notify your Officer immediately, make certain Car 32/33 is notified and the proper mark is taken in the Company Journal. Making certain it is filled out within proper time limits will prevent problems in your future, especially if you apply for a disability retirement due the injuries reported on the CD-72 filed!

8. Lawsuit Claiming Discrimination in Hiring Exams
As every FF knows, Judge Garaufis ruled in favor of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Vulcan Society. Parties are now in the 'remedy phase'. The City has informed the UFA that it intends to appeal Judge Garaufis' decision-all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. However, an appeal is not permitted until after the remedy phase.

9. 2009 W-2: Verifying Annual LODI Tax Deductions
Current IRS regulations provide favorable tax treatment of your wages during the approved period of Line-of-Duty Injury (LODI). Wages will be treated on a pre-tax basis. The Dept computes your LODI medical leave days automatically and deducts the dollar amount from your taxable income as per prior UFA contractual agreement. To verify your proper deductions, see the Salary Chart package, at your Trustee table today, and refer to the chart that applies to your grade and dates that you were out on LODI. The 'Daily Rates' are circled in the last column on each page. See Special 2009 Tax Year Issue 65-2 #8 of 2010, which includes additional info regarding the per deim salary rate charts that will allow you to verify the Dept's calculations. It also includes much more info regarding your paycheck deductions and tax calculations.

10. Return Your Parking Placard # List to UFA
If you have not done so already, Delegates must record placard number assignments and fax (or mail) the provided company placard roster list to the Recording Secretary's office, ATTN Joseph Miccio at 212-683-4359 (or 212-683-0710 if the first line busy). Enter the placard permit #s given to each member, and company roster changes. Delegates should keep a copy for their records.

11. Missing UFA Parking Placards: Police Reports
It is important that all thefts are reported to the police on a Complaint Report, with placard numbers provided. Any unauthorized person caught in possession can be arrested and investigated as to how they obtained the placard(s). Persons involved with illegally supplying parking placards to others WILL be prosecuted by the UFA to the fullest extent of the law. Non-firefighter use of UFA placards in the past has caused legitimate concerns among law enforcement and traffic agents in respecting Firefighter vehicle parking privileges near quarters. Non-firefighters with UFA placards have been arrested for impersonating a Firefighter. Security features were added to insure OUR vehicles are afforded every legal courtesy-not anyone else!

12. Leave Balance Report on Your Pay Stub
In accordance with Dept Order #6, your January 22 check stub reflects the 2009 vacation leave that you accrued during 2009. Members who used an emergency leave extension in 2009 may have a reduced amount of vacation leave for 2010. Positive unused vacation leave, adjusted tours, time owed the city, and time owed the member remaining on 12/31/09 are deleted on the January 22 check stub, unless a request for carryover (with proper justification) of unused time was submitted to the Chief of Personnel for approval. See your Officer if you have any questions regarding leave time entries on your pay stub.

13. Tax Deferral Options
Deferred Compensation (457 & 401k) enrollment and ITHP, allow for direct deductions from your paycheck. As a result of the contributions made your taxes are reduced, and earnings will accumulate tax-deferred. Copies of Special Deferred Compensation Plan 65-2 #7 and Special ITHP Waiver / 50% Indicator 65-2 #6 are at your Trustee table today.

14. Deferred Comp Plan (457 & 401k) Enrollment & Adjustments
The City of New York Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) is comprised of a pre-tax 457 Plan, a pre-tax 401(k) Plan and a post-tax Roth 401(k) Plan. DCP is a supplemental savings plan to your FD pension and Social Security. To join DCP you must first enroll and get a PIN # by calling Client Services at 212-306-7760. It will take up to 7 days for your PIN number to arrive in the mail. To adjust (or initially select) your DCP contributions, which can be done easily over the phone or via web, you'll need to use your PIN #. Contact the Client Service Department at 212-306-7760 if you have any questions. NOTE: New enrollees cannot select 'Single Payroll' deferral as their first deduction. You can put up to 50% of each check into your (457). If you also have a 401(k), you can put a combined total of 70% of your paycheck into it. Total contributions cannot exceed $16,500 ($22,000 if over 50 years old) for the year for each of the 457 and 401(k) plans. Therefore, the combined total 457 and 401(k) contributions cannot exceed $33,000 ($44,000 if over 50 years old). There are also 'Catch-up' provisions that enable you to double your annual contributions for three consecutive years if you are approaching retirement eligibility. For detailed info about DCP programs, see Special Deferred Compensation Plan 65-2 #7 or go to OLR at www.nyc.gov/html/olr/html/deferred/dcphome.shtml.

15. Holiday Pay Delayed One Pay Period
Dept Order #4 on January 12 announced, "Holiday Pay for eligible members scheduled for the 2nd pay period in January (Jan. 22) has been rescheduled for distribution on February 5, 2010." The City Office of Labor Relations (OLR) explained to the UFA that the delay is a result of computer upgrades taking place to the accounting side of payroll. OLR stated the delay is Citywide covering all uniform employees eligible to receive holiday pay, not just FDNY. At the UFA's request, the Dept later published a brief explanation in Dept Order #6.

16. Delegate Education Seminar Registration Packages to Mail in February
Registration packages will be mailed later this month to all Delegate residences. Seminar registration and hotel room reservations must be made by check only, payable to the 'UFA' (phone registration cannot be accepted), along with the proper form. It must be received at the UFA by March 31 to receive your discounted rate. After the deadline 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 by clicking HERE. You can also check out the latest notices for this year's Seminar which will be mailed to you this month. Location/Dates: Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, Tuesday, May 11, 2009 thru Friday, May 14, 2009. (These dates are noted on your 2010 UFA Workchart Calendar)

17. 5th Annual MDA $1 per Member per Meal Program a Success!
The MDA extends its sincere gratitude to all the members and companies who participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association Week. Donations received will go directly to those in our area, including many of our own member's families. All donations can be sent to the MDA, P.O. Box 3178 Grand Central Station, New York, New York 10163.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President