• Past President Reports

Special Business

• City Health Plan Providers at Today's Union Meeting City Health/Medical Plan vendors are present today in the lobby to answer your questions and distribute literature. Make sure you get the info you need to best protect your family!!! Visit the SBF table to receive updated price flyers and transfer forms if you're interested in changing or updating your City Health/Medical Plan. The transfer period begins November 2nd.
• 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.
• Pick Up Bill Thompson Campaign Lawn/Window Signs Today
  Lawn/Window Signs are being distributed at today's meeting. See the Thompson Campaign Table.
• FDNY Health Plan Unit Present Today
  Representatives from the FDNY are here today at tables in the lobby to distribute literature/forms and answer your questions.
• WTC & LODI Drug Card Representatives Present Today
  If you have questions regarding WTC and/or LODI drugs, see Phil Mouren from FDNY at their table today.
• Chauffeur Certification Level & Member Contact Info Form
  Each Delegate should pick up your company roster info form at your Trustee table today. Please return the form with all member cell #, email address and chauffeur certification level filled out. This info will only be used by the UFA for important notifications. Fax to Joe Miccio, Recording Secretary at 212-545-6973 by October 29, 2009.

Today's Agenda

1. JFK Ramada Closing: Union Meetings Rescheduled
The Ramada at JFK will be closing for demolition and rebuilding beginning December 1. The November 12 Union Meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 5 due to scheduling conflicts. November's meeting will be the UFA's last meeting at the JFK Ramada for at least the next few years. January and February Union Meeting dates and locations will be announced once scheduled. Please insure that these dates are adjusted on all your personal and firehouse calendars.

2. Election Day Update
The UFA scored major victories in the primary elections. Our endorsed candidates John C. Liu for City Comptroller and Bill de Blasio for Public Advocate both were the top vote getters in the Primary and went on to win the run-off elections by a large margin. The UFA endorsed both of these candidates prior to the primary election. They will not face any serious challenge in the November General Election and will take their respective offices on January 1st. In addition, most of the City Council candidates that we endorsed also won their primary elections. All candidates expressed their sincere thanks for our help and support. We will be very active politically right up until the November General Election and all members will be needed to turn out. We also announced our endorsement of Bill Thompson for Mayor. Members have been turning out to campaign for Bill every day. Every battalion has an assigned day for campaign duty. This schedule is available on the UFA website. The results of the primary elections are a sign of the UFA's Political Action success. We have one more election to go. Your help is needed to get Bill Thompson elected Mayor. Please turn out. The outcome will affect you and your family for the rest of your career. A full list of all endorsed candidates for the November 3rd Election are posted HERE on the UFA website.

3. Bill Thompson for Mayor Update
* Fundraising: Forms and contribution envelopes are available at the meeting today. If you have not already contributed please consider doing so. The UFA hosted a successful fundraiser event for Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson on Wednesday, September 23rd. Bill Thompson greeted and thanked active and retired UFA members who attended and made contributions. NYC Election Law provides 8.5 to 1 matching funds for contributions by NYC residents. The Thompson campaign expressed their sincere gratitude for the large amount of money this fundraiser produced to help Bill Thompson get his message out to all New Yorkers.

* Pick Up Campaign Lawn/Window Signs Today: Lawn/Window Signs are being distributed at today's meeting. Please distribute them to members of your company that live in NYC. We are asking members to display them on their lawns or windows. In addition we are asking off-duty members to solicit local merchants to display the signs in their shop windows. NOTE: FD regulations prohibit posting campaign advertisements at FDNY Facilities.

* GOTV Events: We'd also like to thank the members of each battalion who have been turning out daily to help with Bill Thompson's campaign. The battalion daily assignments are posted on the UFA website and faxed to the appropriate firehouses in advance of each event. We are at less than one month to go. In the final weeks we will be asking for additional members to turn out for larger events. The location for satellite campaign offices for Bill Thompson for Mayor are available at today's meeting. If you have a few free hours please stop by one of these offices to volunteer. Make sure you let them know that you are from the UFA. This will be a close race and all hands are needed.

4. Medical Leave at 7.32%: Increase to 7.5% May Trigger Manning Reduction
Current annualized medical leave is 7.32%. 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.

5. Swine Flu Pandemic Predicted: Wear PPE on all EMS Runs
As noted above, an increase in annualized medical leave from the current 7.32% to 7.5% could trigger a reduction in manning. The UFA is urging each member to pay strict attention to the proper procedures to protect yourself. Anytime there is expected patient contact, an N95 mask must be worn-in advance by all members-on every CFR run. Do not take chances with your health! Companies must have enough N95 masks on the rig to protect all members. If your company runs out of N95 masks, make certain your officer notifies the dispatcher that your company is unavailable for CFR runs! DO NOT RESPOND TO EMS RUNS WITHOUT PROPER PPE!!! The UFA strongly recommends that its members avail themselves to the H1N1 vaccination at their earliest convenience!

6. Governor Signs New Law Reviving Time-Barred 9/11 Suits Against the City
On September 16, 2009 Governor Patterson signed a law, strongly supported by the UFA and its General Counsel, that revives previously time-barred claims against the City of New York for 9/11 rescue & recovery workers suffering from illness/injury due to exposure to toxins or otherwise at the WTC and other related sites. If you believe you may have a WTC related illness/injury claim but never brought it against the City because you were too late, that claim is revived by this new law as long as you pursue it within one (1) year from 9/16/09. If you have any questions or wish to bring such a claim, we recommend that you call our General Counsel, Michael Block at Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo (212-732-9000) as soon as possible. See attached letter to all members.

7. Unified Call-Taker Problems
On August 12, at the UFA's request, the UFA and UFOA held a joint meeting with the Department regarding the multiple problems that have continued to occur since the Fire Department implemented its Unified Call-Taker Program city-wide on May 4th. The Dept admitted that the new system has resulted in numerous inaccurate addresses and partial ticket information to FDNY field units, among other things. The Dept explained that it has provided details compiled from Officer's Unusual Occurrence Reports to City officials, and has had meetings with them to attempt to solve these problems. To date, these serious failures have not been fixed. Hundreds of problems have been documented with Unusual Occurrence Reports and many more have gone unreported. Please continue to forward copies of job tickets (and Officer's Unusual Occurrence Reports) documenting serious UCT call generated problems to the UFA. If your Officer did not prepare an Unusual Occurrence Report, include a note in your description with the ticket when faxing and note that no Unusual Occurrence Report was prepared. Fax these Reports to the UFA at 212-683-4359 Attn: Joseph Miccio, Recording Secretary. See attached recent News Clips.

8. Dept Monitoring AFID Units in the Field
Reports have been confirmed that the Department is monitoring and documenting unit AFID compliance. Your Officers will need to document in writing any time it becomes necessary to return to (or remain in) quarters during scheduled BI periods. Reasons could include-but are not limited to-necessary personal breaks or decon after EMS runs or any other emergencies, as appropriate.

9. OT Cap Policy
The Dept instituted a cap on "Discretionary OT" in May, of 81.25 hours per quarter, or 325 hours per year. The UFA believes this is a violation of the UFA Collective Bargaining Agreement and RSOT Agreement if contractually mandated OT worked (RSOT, Portal, Washup, etc.) is used to reach the OT cap. After fruitless discussions with the Dept, the UFA has filed Improper Practice charges at the Office of Collective Bargaining. NOTE: The Dept has verified that Officers must NEVER deny members their right to work RSOT, MMOT, Portal OT and Washup OT, even if the OT caps have been exceeded. (Contact the UFA Recording Secretary, Joseph Miccio if you are denied these types of OT.) Only discretionary OT, such as 'Other OT,' will be limited by the caps.

10. Employee Self Service for Paystub Info & Making Updates
The new Employee Self Service (ESS) allows you to view and change your personal and dependent* info, benefits, tax, and certain payroll information on both the Intranet from work and Internet from home (in many cases you no longer have to fill out a paper ERB form to transfer, add or delete). You can see line by line details regarding deductions and OT, longevity, CFR and more that correspond with each biweekly pay period. To access ESS go to www.nyc.gov/ess. Log-in using your self service ID and password. Then click sign-in. If it is your first time logging in use the seven-digit employee ID number found in the reference # box on your pay stub. Your initial password is the last two digits of your SSN and the eight digits of your birth date. The UFA highly recommends all members log-in ASAP and change your initial password to keep your ESS information secure and confidential. *IMPORTANT NOTE: If adding or deleting a spouse or child, the on-line updates will be held as "pending" until hard copies of the correct documentation (per Dept policies) is received.

11. Pension & VSF DROP Statements
The Dept started distribution of individual pension statements to firehouses for your Officer to provide you. Pension & Payroll informed the UFA that all members should have their statements prior to the October 16 pay day. Any dollar amount or value provided is based on the estimated value on December 31, 2008. However, beneficiary information reflects the most recent changes processed after December 31, 2008. Detailed explanations of terminology will also be provided in an upcoming Supplement to Dept Orders. Make sure you review your statement and keep it with your pension planning records. Pursuant to meetings with the UFA and the FDNY Pension Bureau, statements now include Variable Supplement DROP dollar values accrued for members with over 20 years of service. VSF Payments will be $12,000 for 2009 and each year thereafter, in accordance with the NYC Code. Refer to Delegate Manual Chapter 'FF Laws & Definitions' for the complete text of the code, and also the chapter 'FDNY Pension Manual' for additional info re the VSF.

12. Portal-to-Portal OT Pay Reminder
Per Dept Order #7-2009, "portal to portal overtime is guaranteed per arbitration decision No. A-3811-91, as long as the criteria for portal to portal is met. This criteria is defined in PA/ID 5-74. If the portal to portal eligibility criteria has been satisfied per PA/ID 5-74, then portal to portal can be provided whenever a member reporting for duty is detailed before the start of that tour. Exceptions are noted in PA/ID 5-74 section 10. In addition, members shall review and comply with section 2.7.6 of the TPR Manual. Please be advised that timely arrival of details is still expected, e.g., firefighters reporting for a 6x9 tour, having not worked the previous 9x6 tour, should be ready for fire duty or expected to leave for their detail prior to 1800 hours."

• 1. Contractual Obligations: Per our Contract, Dept Policy and Arbitration ruling A-3811-91, members are not required to arrive at the detailed unit before the start of the tour. If you are denied a portal mark for a detail, take a mark in your Company Journal and contact the UFA Recording Secretary, Joe Miccio, at 212-545-6973 or RecordingSecretary@UFANYC.org. In accordance with Article XXIII of the UFA Collective Bargaining Agreement, members "shall receive compensation for travel to the unit to which that employee is detailed at a rate of 45 minutes (OT) of travel time if the detailed unit is within the same borough as that employee's permanent unit or 1 1/4hours (OT) if (a different borough)..." When returning from your detail, you "shall receive compensation for travel to the permanent unit at the same rates (stated above)..."
• 2. Exceptions (no portal pay): If you are on a detail for one half of a 24, you shall receive portal for one trip, not both. If you are detailed for more than a single tour, you shall receive portal only for the beginning of the first and the end of the last day of such detail. Also not eligible for portal: training assignments, light duty details, details from a staffing pool, if the detail is an OT tour, and details across the floor. NOTE: Remind your Officers to give you a portal-to-portal TPR mark when you are detailed to BHS for Annual Company Medicals.
• 3. Verifying Your TPR Mark: TPR Manual paragraph 2.7.6 states, "Portal to portal overtime is guaranteed per arbitration decision No. A-3811-91..." Your Officer is required to enter a TPR code on your TPR form each time you travel to or from an eligible detail (note above exceptions). If this entry is not made, you will not receive portal pay for your detail. Your Officer receives a blank TPR form preprinted with your name on it from HQ each week. This weekly TPR form covers all tours worked through 0900 on Sunday each week-and must be sent to HQ by your officer on Monday via the bag. When detailed, it is your responsibility to check your TPR form upon the completion of each tour to ensure proper entries were made for both portal trips, unless the detail is one of the exceptions listed above.
• 4. TPR Codes for Portal: Inside borough (1433); Outside borough (1434).

13. Report ALL Injuries on CD-72!
Bill Romaka, the Health & Safety Officer / Sergeant-at-Arms reminds ALL members to please report any and ALL injuries to the officer on duty. There have been problems with members sustaining minor injuries who do NOT report the injury to their officer, and later have problems when they try to have that injury made service-connected. In addition, please make sure to ALWAYS fill out a CD72 for ANY injury. Even no-time lost injuries should be reported in a CD72. Please make sure that ALL INJURIES ARE REPORTED and a CD72 is filled out, no matter how minor. The best way to protect your rights and your health is to be your own advocate.

14. Swine (H1N1) Flu Questions Answered Today
Bill Romaka, the Health & Safety Officer / Sergeant-at-Arms has arranged to have Dr. Ann Marchesano from FDNY BHS come to today's union meeting to address the membership regarding the importance of receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine, as well as to answer any questions regarding H1N1 or Seasonal Flu.

15. UFA Scholarship Applications Deadline Oct. 9th
REMINDER: Applications and instructions for the UFA Scholarship Fund are available on the UFA website: www.UFANYC.org. Deadline for submission is tomorrow, October 9th.

16. Proposed Constitution Amendment
The UFA Constitution Committee, which is comprised of three members from each borough, met on September 23 to review proposed amendments. The proposed amendment was mailed to all FHs and Delegate residences and will be discussed and voted on at the November Union Meeting-which has been rescheduled to Thursday, November 5th.

17. Health Care Providers at Today's Meeting City Health/Medical Plan Transfer Period Begins 11/2/09
The Health Benefits Transfer Period for active members begins November 2, 2009 and ends November 30, 2009. Health plan changes requested during the Transfer Period will be effective the first day of the first full payroll period in January 2010 for active members. Late changes will not be accepted by the City!!! During the annual Transfer Period active members may transfer into any health plan offered for which they may be eligible, add or drop optional rider coverage or add or drop dependent(s). To make changes, (including enrolling in the Buy-Out-Waiver Program), the member must complete a Health Benefits Application. (To elect the Buy-Out Waiver Program or change health premium contribution tax status, members must fill out both a Medical Spending Conversion Enrollment/Change Form and a Health Benefits Application. Conversion Forms must be completed and returned to your agency personnel office or health benefits rep by November 13th). Members who waive their City health benefits, will lose their PICA drug coverage. Forms are available at www.nyc.gov/olr or through the Health Desk at Fire Headquarters. Certain changes can instead be made on the City's ESS website at www.nyc.gov/ess. See Paragraph #10, above, for info regarding ESS.

18. Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Accounts for Health Care & Dependent Care
Open enrollment period (for HCFSA & DeCAP) runs through November 13th. These programs allow active FF's to deposit a portion of their pre-tax income into accounts maintained for certain health and dependent care expenses not covered by your health plan or SBF. These programs are known as the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DeCAP). To enroll, you must submit an FSA Enrollment/Change Form for Plan Year 2010, which is available on line at www.nyc.gov/olr or by contacting the FDNY Health Benefits Unit at 718-999-2196. Any member currently enrolled will automatically receive the Plan Year 2010 FSA Program Brochure and Enrollment/Change Form in the mail.

19. FDNY Health Benefits Unit & Drug Cards (WTC & LODI)
The FDNY Health Benefits Unit is in the lobby today to assist you. If you have questions regarding WTC and/or LODI drugs, see Phil Mouren from FDNY at their table today. Representatives from individual Health Plan providers are also here today at other tables to distribute literature/forms and answer your questions. If you have any questions or problems after today concerning payroll deductions for health benefits contact the FDNY Health Benefits Unit, Camille Isaacs at 718-999-2196. You can also visit the UFA SBF table today to receive updated price flyers and transfer forms if you're interested in changing or updating your City Health/Medical Plan. Make sure you get the info you need to best protect your family!

20. UFA Dental Plan Transfer Period
The Dental Transfer Period begins November 15 for active and retired members ends December 31. Changes become effective on January 1, 2009. Healthplex, which manages the UFA Dentcare program (no out-of-pocket) and UFA Family Plan (pay & reimbursement), will be present at the November Union Meeting to distribute literature, enrollment forms and answer questions.

21. Update Your Address, Email, Phone #s with the UFA
Members and Delegates wishing to receive important information or notifications from the UFA should insure that their residence addresses, email addresses, home and cell phone numbers on file with the UFA are updated and accurate. In order to do this, you must prepare and sign a 'SBF Change of Address Form' and mail to the UFA, Attn: SBF. Forms can be obtained from your Delegate, who can assist you, or you can call the UFA SBF at 212-683-4723, or visit the Forms Section of the UFA web site at www.UFANYC.org.

22. Chauffeur Certification Level & Member Contact Info Form
Each Delegate should pick up your company roster info form at your Trustee table today. Please return the form with all member cell #, email address and chauffeur certification level filled out. This info will only be used by the UFA for important notifications. Fax to Joe Miccio, Recording Secretary at 212-545-6973 by October 29, 2009.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President