• Past President Reports

Today's Agenda

1. Next Union Meeting June 9th, JFK International Hotel
The next Union Meeting location has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, June 9th, at the JFK International Hotel (Formerly JFK Holiday Inn) located at 144-02 135th Ave. Jamaica, NY 11436. Please note the meeting will NOT take place on the second Thursday in June, as noted on your UFA Workchart calendar. Please insure that these dates are adjusted on all your personal and firehouse calendars.

2. Battalion Delegate Meeting TBA
A Battalion Advisory Committee meeting date will be announced shortly to take place at the UFA building at 204 East 23rd Street. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues going forward after expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement, which will take place on August 1st.

3. Medical Leave at 7.418%: Increase to 7.5% May Trigger Manning Reduction
Current annualized medical leave is 7.418%. As per the 1996 Roster Staffing Agreement, the Fire Commissioner can reduce the number of 5-Firefighter engines from 60 to 11 if annualized medical leave exceeds 7.5 percent. Additionally, if annualized medical leave rises above 7.6 percent, a reduction in manning is mandated. This will create an adverse impact on the safety of Firefighters and the public. Steve Cassidy will discuss today.

4. UFA Group Life Insurance Cost Reduction & Upgrades
The UFA renegotiated the costs of its Group Life Insurance program, lowering premium costs at all levels for active members and adding a $500,000 coverage option. Members and spouses previously denied coverage can join during the new open enrollment period, which begins July 1. Rate reductions will kick in shortly thereafter.

5. Uniformed LODI FICA Refunds 1991-1992
The NYC Office of Payroll Administration (OPA) reports the Federal Government finally paid the City the full amount due on the outstanding LODI claims. The 1991-1992 Uniformed LODI FICA refunds were delayed due to the reconciliation of interest paid on the claims by the Internal Revenue Service. This reconciliation is now complete for 1991 and nearly complete for 1992. It is anticipated that refunds covering 1991 will be sent to claimants in May 2010 and that the refunds covering 1992 claims will be sent to claimants approximately one month later. All refunds for years 1989-90 and 1993 through 2005 have already been paid. For more information, refer to the OPA website: www.nyc.gov/payroll, which can be linked from the UFA home page. Any questions should be referred to the OPA at Lodi_FICARefund@payroll.nyc.gov.

6. Mayor's Budget Reported
As per the Mayor's May 6th budget announcement, 20 companies are still on the chopping block. Before firehouses are closed, the City Charter requires a 45-day notice to be given. Announcements of companies to be closed must take place on or about May 17 for the City to close houses on July 1. The budget is also proposing we give up the 5th man! Commissioner Cassano said in his testimony that "hopefully we will be able to come to an agreement with the UFA on our plan. However, if we cannot reach an accord with the UFA, arbitration will be necessary." The current roster staffing agreement expires in January 2011. We have already told the Department that the UFA will not consider any reduction in staffing in lieu of closings. This is an issue for both firefighters and for public safety. The UFA has conducted dozens of meetings with elected leaders from Washington, Albany, City Hall and throughout the five boroughs to discuss these issues.

7. UFA Ad Campaign Begins
On May 1 the UFA launched a radio ad campaign on more than a half dozen stations. The  30 second spot appears in the coming weeks on six New York City stations and one of the most politically significant stations in Albany (to listen, go to www.ufanyc.org/cms/contents/view/8246). Radio stations include: 1010 WINS, WCBS-Newsradio 88, WOR 710, WFAN 660, WEPN/ESPN RADIO 1050, WWRL 1600, WNYM 970 AM The Apple in New York City and WGDJ in Albany, New York. The UFA is building a print newspaper media campaign to communicate primary public safety issues that result from the proposed firehouse closings. We have activated an internet and social media campaign that includes Twitter (www.twitter.com/UFANYC) plus viral videos via YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/UFANYC) to save the firehouses and protect staffing levels. This campaign will continue to evolve daily and weekly.

8. Firematics Resource Library on UFA Website
Via the UFA website (Save Our Firehouses Section: www.ufanyc.org/save.php), the UFA has built a firematics resource library to help elected and community leaders to better understand and arm themselves with knowledge about the key role firefighters play in public safety in New York and how it can not be compared to any other city in America.  We encourage all firefighters to take on a serious role in being a leader in communicating to friends, family and those in the communities where you work and live to stop the closure of companies throughout the city. Please be sure to direct your firehouse community leaders to the UFA's firematics resource library for answers.

9. BCB Rules FDNY Mishandled Safety Precautions At Steam-Pipe Explosion: Wrong Gear, Inadequate Decontamination
The Board of Collective Bargaining has ruled that the Fire Department erred when it ordered firefighters to participate in debris and asbestos clean-up after the 2007 Midtown steam-pipe explosion without applying certain safety protocols. Though the BCB also found that "FDNY's assignment of firefighters to the steam-pipe incident was consistent with its rights to direct employees and determine job assignments under [Civil Service Law]," the ruling determined that the Dept. failed to implement proper safety procedures and that both sides "must be afforded an opportunity to alleviate said impact through collective bargaining." The board said in its decision that the union had argued that firefighters were not provided with proper protective gear, such as Tyvek suits and respiratory protection, and that "these Firefighters were not instructed to perform decontamination work on their rigs or gear." UFA Health & Safety Officer/Sergeant-at-Arms reports that an adverse safety impact existed because the FDNY did not uniformly apply mandated safety regulations, and would like to thank the following members who testified at the hearings:  Firefighter Steven Magnus (E-26), Firefighter Michael Lynch (E-74), Firefighter John Breen (E-74), Firefighter Christopher Berke (L-119) and David Newman, an Industrial Hygienist for NYCOSH. 

10. Heat Index for Signal 10-51
The summer heat will be upon us soon. When the Heat Index ('Feels Like' or 'Real Feel' temperature) is 105 degrees or more, a Signal 10-51 is mandated, in accordance with Fire Prevention Manual Chapter 3, Addendum 2. The Heat Index is reported by the National Weather Service (NWS) hourly and is also regularly reported in the media as 'Feels Like' or 'Real Feel' temperature. Exact current 'Feels Like' temperatures (Heat Index and also Wind Chill Index) can be found on the NWS web site at www.srh.noaa.gov/zipcity.php by entering your zip code. The bottom of the UFA website home page also has a weather link to obtain this info. Your on-duty Officer is responsible to make immediate notifications to the Battalion whenever the 'Feels Like' temperature warrants a signal 10-51 and it is not given over the teleprinter.

11. Safe Response
Health & Safety Officer/Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Romaka reminds the membership of the importance of a safe and efficient response and 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. As recommended in the Safety Bulletins, chauffeurs need to pay attention to the varying weather conditions they are responding in and adjust their responses accordingly. Previous UFA Safety Messages that highlight and emphasize a safe response should also be reviewed!

12. Building Card Information Entry
The Fire Department, without notice to or input by the UFA, recently instituted a program in the 6th Division regarding data entry of building card information into a new computerized Coordinated Building Inspection and Data Analysis System. We have been advised that this program will be expanded citywide shortly. The Department anticipates that Company Officers may request the assistance of Firefighters in data entry. After discussion with the Department about this new program, we are advising our members that they are not required to assist in data entry. If a Firefighter chooses to assist his Company Officer please keep in mind that the data entry involved in this program is the responsibility of Company Officers and not Firefighters.

13. Delegate Seminar Concludes
On behalf of the entire UFA Executive Board I'd like to personally thank each and every Delegate and Alternate who sacrificed their valuable time and made the effort to participate this week. It is our objective that the comprehensive training received while here will be of great assistance when helping your members and their families regarding the many issues they face. The agenda and course titles are also posted on the UFA website. Besides the time you spend at our Educational Seminar, we realize you invest considerable time throughout the year in order to educate yourself on issues of importance to your members. We'd like to once again thank you for all you do and the leadership role you take. It does make a difference!

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President