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Today's Agenda

1. October Union Meeting at New Location
The October 13 Union Meeting location has been scheduled at Terrace on the Park, 52-11 111 Street, Flushing Meadow Park, NY 11368. This is due to renovations taking place to the ballrooms at the JFK International Hotel.

2. UFA Turnout for 2011 Labor Day Parade on September 10th
The UFA urges all available members to join New York City's Working Families for the 2011 Labor Day Parade celebrating a proud, strong and united labor movement. The UFA and UFOA anticipate that the thousands of Firefighters from around the country who will be here to honor the 10-year anniversary of the WTC attacks will also be marching in the parade in solidarity with labor. It is extremely important that the UFA and UFOA membership have a strong turnout! Saturday, September 10th, 10 am, 5th Avenue & 44th Street. Organized by New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, www.NYCCLC.org. For more information, call 212-604-9552.

3. September 11th Remembrance
A list of events and dates for FDNY members was published on Supplement 43 to Dept Order 61, which includes the below. Additional events are listed on Supplement 43.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral:
On Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 1500 hours, our families will attend the FDNY 10th Anniversary Memorial Service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, located at Fifth Avenue and 50th St., NYC. Large screen TV monitors will broadcast the service being conducted inside. All uniformed members are invited to join the outside formation starting at 1400 hours. Dress uniform shall be worn.

At Tribute Wall:
On Sunday, September 11, 2011, from 0800 hours to dusk, an Honor Guard will be stationed at the Tribute Wall located on the outer wall of Engine 10 / Ladder 10. All members and their families are invited to attend.

At Firemen's Monument:
On Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 0930 hours, members of Battalion 18 will host the tenth annual Memorial Services at the Firemen's Monument on Riverside Drive and 100th Street (Upper West Side of Manhattan). All members and their families are invited to attend. A Mass at St. John the Divine will follow at 1100 hours.

At WTC:
See Joint UFA-UFOA Statement/Press Release objecting to the exclusion of Firefighters and Officers from ceremonies at the WTC.

4. Zadroga Bill Update
It was announced that the fund created under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will not include cancer among the medical issues that will be covered. However, Sheila Birnbaum, special master for the Zadroga fund, stated that could change in the future if more evidence turns up to make a clear connection between 9/11 and cancer. The monitoring program calls for reviews that could lead to a broader definition of what qualifies as a 9/11-related illness. The FDNY's chief medical officer, Dr. David Prezant, has been studying the medical records of the agency's roughly 11,000 firefighters and officers in the aftermath of Sept. 11, comparing the data to records of the same firefighters before the terrorist attacks. The Fire Department published a study on September 3rd that shows firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terror attacks are suffering an increased rate of cancer--contradicting a recent federal analysis that failed to make the link. The Zadroga Bill is also discussed in this month's Firelines. See the UFA-UFOA Statement/Press Release calling for immediate changes to cover Firefighters and Officers who are sick or dying of cancer.

5. FDNY Exam Application Deadline Sept 15!!!
Steve Cassidy and Jim Slevin were up in Albany yesterday to meet with State legislators regarding the Mayor's and Governor's proposed Tier 6 legislation. An update will be provided today.

Or view 65-2 #57 for more info.

6. Special Election Endorsements for 9/13/11
On Tuesday September 13, 2011 there is a special election to fill vacant Congressional and Assembly seats. The turnout will be light so it is very important that you get out and vote if you live in the district. Active and retired UFA members that live in the district are receiving an endorsement letter asking them to get out and vote. After reviewing all of the candidates and their positions that are important to our members, the UFA has endorsed the people listed below. These candidates support our members and will fight for our positions if elected. Attacks on our pensions, healthcare, collective bargaining rights and other benefits continue to happen. The only way to put a stop to those attacks is to elect candidates that support us. It is important that we support and elect those candidates that will fight those attacks and support our members.

US Congress
9th CD - David Weprin
NYS Assembly
23 AD - Philip Goldfeder
27 AD - Michael Siamanowitz
54 AD - Rafael Espinal, Jr.
73 AD - Dan Quart

Please ensure that you get out and vote. Protect your pension. Protect your family. Support those candidates that support us.

7. FDNY Pilots & Marine Engineers Now UFA Members
On July 19, FDNY Marine Pilots and Engineers, all former Firefighters and UFA members, voted to decertify from representation by the Marine Engineers Benevolent Association and to become members of the UFA, following a decision by the Office of Collective Bargaining (BCB) to approve their request for a vote. The BCB's Board of Certification conducted the election by mailing secret ballots. The UFA welcomes all 36 Marine Pilots and Engineers back to the UFA, as active or retired members. As a result, they are also members of the UFA Security Benefit Fund or UFA Retired Security Benefit Fund. Required City welfare fund contributions for each new member will now go into these funds. Any questions Marine Engineers and Pilots may have should initially be directed to UFA Recording Secretary, Joseph Miccio, the UFA Marine Unit Chairman. Joe can be reached at the UFA at 212-545-6973 or RecordingSecretary@UFANYC.org.

8. FDNY Budget
The UFA Executive Board would once again like to thank all members who turned out for rallies and press conferences. Your efforts were significant to achieving our victory. Keeping all 20 firehouses open this summer was a major victory for public safety and Firefighter safety, but our fight is far from over. We are certain we will have to deal with this issue again for next year's budget. As early as this November there could be a budget modification that may affect FD operations.

9. Pension Protection Bill Awaiting Governor's Action
Our proposed Pension Protection Bill legislation passed in both the State Senate and Assembly, and is now awaiting action by Governor Cuomo. If the governor signs it, this legislation provides that if a member with at least 20 years of creditable police or fire service in the retirement system is dismissed for reasons other than a felony conviction, that member shall not be precluded from any rights..

10. Roster Staffing Litigation
As you know, the UFA and UFOA filed a joint petition on January 31, 2011, alleging that the City's elimination of the 5th FF in the 60 Engines as set forth in the Roster Staffing Agreement violated its requirement to negotiate, as well as created a negative safety impact. In its Interim Decision, the BCB dismissed the unions' allegations of a violation of the duty to negotiate, but found that the unions had set forth sufficient facts to warrant a hearing to determine whether the reduction in staffing has a practical impact on the safety of FFs. The UFA and UFOA filed their joint Discovery request last week for the safety impact hearing. The City has until October 17 to respond. With regard to the dismissal of the unions' claims relative to the City's duty to negotiate, we filed an appeal of that part of the decision on July 29th in the N.Y. County Supreme Court. Additional information is in this month's Firelines. The entire decision document is posted HERE.

11. 3rd Day of BI Improper Practice
The UFA and City submitted final briefs on this case in April and we continue to await a ruling from the Board of Collective Bargaining. Details of the case were discussed with Delegates during special workshops at the Delegate Education Seminar in May. If successful, the City will be required to bargain with the UFA over the safety impact created by expansion of the AFID program.

12. UCT Case Update
The last Unified Call Taker hearings at the OCB took place on June 21, July 19, August 2 and 4. The UFA and UFOA are working together on this case. The hearings will continue in October. Additional information is discussed in This month's Firelines.

13. Start-of-Tour Under / Reduced Staffing Grievance
The UFA filed its case in June and would like to thank all Delegates who provided documentation each time this occurred in their units. Start-of-Tour under/reduced staffing occurs most frequently on night tours immediately following Company Medicals or Annual Education Day, and also after a member is injured late on any tour. Units are being placed in service while still awaiting details to start the tour, in violation of AUC 287. If your Engine is ordered to ride Under Staffed (3 or fewer FFs) or Ladder Reduce Staffed (4 FFs) at the start of the tour, you are still encouraged to fax the 'Starting Tour Understaffed' Form and your Officer's Unusual Occurrence Report (if available) to the UFA, Attn: Joseph Miccio, Recording Secretary, at 212-683-4359, which will help our case. Also, immediately notify the UFA if any Firefighter or civilian is seriously injured due to this staffing reduction!

14. Understaffed Unit Injury Reporting
Any member who becomes injured in the Line-of-Duty while working in an *Understaffed Engine or Under/Reduced Staffed Ladder is requested to notify your Delegate. The Delegate or another member of the unit should fax a copy of the Officer's Unusual Occurrence Report (if prepared by your Officer) and any additional pertinent information to the UFA at 212-683-4359 or 212-683-0710, ATTN: Joe Miccio, Recording Secretary. Immediately notify the UFA if any firefighter or civilian is seriously injured due to this staffing reduction!

*UNDERSTAFFED UNIT: Per AUC 287, any engine or ladder riding with fewer than 4 Firefighters (3 or less) is Understaffed. A ladder riding with 4 Firefighters is defined as Reduced Staffed Unit.

15. Self MX Payback on Weekends Permitted
The Department confirmed at the August 31 Labor-Management meeting that members who work (bank) a weekday Self-Mutual may now pay it back on a weekend tour. The Dept stated it modified the Citytime system, which will now accept entry of these Self-MX paybacks. Keep in mind, however, that members taking a self MX off on a weekend tour (Fri/Sat/Sun 6x and Sat/Sun 9x), must still pay it back on a weekend tour, in accordance with the policy. Self-MXs are not a UFA contractual item. Self-MXs were introduced by the Department in the 1990s to help reduce medical leave.

16. Work Glove Distribution
The Dept has informed the UFA that it expects to complete replacement of work gloves for all members by the end of this month.

17. Modified Response Pilot Expanding City-Wide
The Department informed the UFA at the August 31 Labor-Management meeting that the Modified Response pilot will soon expand City wide--dates to be announced.

18. 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.

19. July 4th Leave for Military Members
The UFA discussed with the Dept. at the Labor-Management meeting the issue of military members receiving all benefits they may be entitled to for July 4th. The Department informed us it is waiting for the City attorney reviews before finalizing its policy.

20. UFA Reimbursed Military Member Dues
In recognition of their services and sacrifices for our country, the UFA Executive Board voted once again to reimburse union dues to all members for the periods they served active military duties beyond the normal reservist annual training periods. Refunds were mailed on 6/20/11 to members who served between 10/30/03 and 4/1/11. Members whose service ended prior to 10/30/03 were reimbursed in 2005. The names and service date records were provided to the UFA by the FDNY Bureau of Personnel.

21. CD-72/73 Submission
The UFA wishes to remind the membership of the importance of at least "starting" a CD-72 or CD-73 within 24 hours of an occurrence. It is particularly important to be vigilant when there might be a covering Officer or if the Officer goes sick or injured during the same occurrence. Please make certain all the members in your firehouse are aware of this need.

22. Fiscal Leap Year Impact on Bi-weekly Paycheck
See the following excerpt from Department Order #54: "Fiscal Leap Year Begins 07/01/11 and ends on 06/30/12. Payrolls will be calculated on a leap year basis commencing with pay periods covering any day falling on or after 07/01/11 and prior to 07/12/12. This means that any calculations utilizing 365 days as part of the formula will be changed to use 366 days for the Fiscal Year ending 06/30/12. Bi-weekly paychecks beginning on 07/08/11 will be prorated. This change in calculation during the fiscal leap year will result in a small decrease in gross pay."

23. City Island Details
The Chief of Operations discussed with the UFA at last month's Labor-Management meeting the continued difficulties the Dept is facing getting volunteers to staff the City Island units--and the criteria it has published to recruit members. The criterion of involuntary details, when necessary, was also discussed. The Dept is looking for volunteers.

24. Firehouse OOS Notification System Pilot Continues
The UFA's Mobile Media Firehouse Out-of-Service Alert System pilot program went live in June and is still being reviewed and updated. We are working with Gold Media to develop enhanced report writer routines that will permit comprehensive review and publication of data, as well as improvements to the on-line Google heat-maps. Any member of your unit (with a system recognized cell phone) can now have the UFA send instantaneous warning notifications to your local elected officials and community activists and organizations. All you need to do is send a text message to 51684. Enter in the message field your 4-digit unit code (L127, E004, S041, R005,...). Then add a space plus the 2-digit OOS code (01 = Relocate, 02 = Repairs, etc.) and hit send! When back in service use the '00' code. Let your voice be heard each and every time your company is taken off the grid.

25. 60+ Companies Still Needed (See Attached List)!!!
If you have not done so, fax your company cell phone list immediately to UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio at 212-683-4359, or hand in today. The FH OOS notification system is unable to recognize messages from your unit unless your unit members' cell numbers are uploaded.

26. OOS Google Web-Map & Opting In to Receive Notifications
Anyone can opt in to receive email notices every time their neighborhood company is OOS by going to www.firesafeny.com and registering. There is no cost. This site also displays a Google Map of all five boroughs and all unit locations. Each time your company is OOS, the Google 'Heat' Map will reflect the closing in real time and show unit % availability pie charts, as well as sending out notices to participants. The UFA provided text message opt-in instructions to elected officials, media and other affected organizations and activists.

27. UFA Scholarship Applications Deadline October 18th
REMINDER: Applications and instructions for the UFA Scholarship Fund are available HERE. Deadline for submission is October 18th, 2011.

28. FF Family Scholarships List Available on UFA Website
The UFA website includes a special Firefighter & Family Scholarship Section HERE. You can look up scholarships offered by the UFA, FDNY, FDNY fraternal organizations, memorial scholarship funds, and other scholarship information that the UFA is made aware of. There is also an FDNY catalog listing courses, scholarships, and partner colleges. Scholarships and grants are listed alphabetically with contact info, eligibility requirements, award amounts, as well as submission and reward dates. If you wish to add scholarships not yet listed, forward the info to UFA Recording Secretary, Joe Miccio via fax at 212-683-4359 or email at RecordingSecretary@UFANYC.org.

29. Proposed UFA Constitution Amendments
In accordance with the UFA Constitution, the Constitution Committee is scheduled to meet on September 22 and September 27 (if necessary) to review proposed amendments, which will be published prior to the October and November Union Meetings. Proposed amendments will be discussed and voted on at the November Union Meeting.

30. City Health/Medical Plan Transfer Period in November
The Health Benefits Transfer Period for active members begins November 1, 2011 and ends November 30, 2011. Health plan changes requested during the Transfer Period will be effective the first day of the first full payroll period in January 2012 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 a date to be announced.) Forms are available at www.nyc.gov/olr or through the Health Desk at Fire Headquarters. Members who waive their City health benefits, will lose their PICA drug coverage. City Health/Medical Plan vendors will be present at the October 13 Union Meeting to answer your questions and distribute literature. Make sure you get the info you need to best protect your family!!!

31. 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 click HERE.

31. Change of Beneficiary/Address Checklists
UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio reports that Change of Beneficiary and Change of Address Checklists are inside the Delegate Manual Booklets: 'Security Benefits Fund', 'NYC Health Plans', and 'Insurances & Free Benefits.' They also include contact information for making changes. More Booklets can be ordered from the Recording Secretary's office at 212-545-6973.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President