MEASURE E – MOVING FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR BUDGET APPROVAL

Local 1014 met with the Department to discuss first-year expenditures and our joint support for the budget approval of new funding resulting from the public’s support of Measure E. Measure E is estimated to bring in nearly $152 million to the Fire District budget. This revenue will be used for the following priorities:

1. Hiring, training, and certifying additional firefighters and paramedics
2. Communications and information technology systems
3. Facilities
4. Vehicles and aircraft
5. Life-saving rescue tools
6. Wildfire protection
7. Emergency response tools and infrastructure

Local 1014 led the charge with a signature-driven ballot measure. Through our partnership with the Department, we were able to clearly communicate to the public the urgent needs for funding and how that funding would be directly returned to them in the form of enhanced Fire, ALS, and BLS EMS services. That commitment continues, as both the Union and the Department work toward final approval by the Board of Supervisors on June 24. The goal is a balanced, year-one proposal that reflects the true priorities of the communities we serve across all districts.

We would like to thank the Fire Chief, along with Chiefs Kim, O’Brien, and Barrera, for meeting with the Local 1014 Executive Board and dedicating long hours to analyzing data, identifying additional funding opportunities, and helping shape a smart, strategic path forward for Year One of Measure E. Collaboration between Labor and Management leads to better outcomes, and this process has been a model for that principle.

Key Highlights of the Plan (Set for June 24 Adoption):

• $44.5 million in station upgrades
• Deployment of the first 15 four-person engine companies — a historic milestone as we begin the journey to convert all three-person engines to four-person staffing. This move will improve safety for our members and deliver better service on both fire and EMS calls.
• 11 new special event staffing positions, including APRU and FFPM, to reduce recalls and ensure appropriate coverage at high-demand events.
• Six new Captain Training Positions, dedicated to the North, Central, and East Regions to support consistent and effective Drill Tower operations needed to meet staffing demands.
• A new Sikorsky Firehawk, along with new tarmac and hangars
• Upgrades to our Dispatch and CAD system, bringing us up to date with technology that meets modern demands and improves usability for our members.
• Funding for new firefighting equipment

This is a landmark achievement — the first new source of funding in over 30 years. Local 1014 and our Department are proud to stand united as we put these resources to work for our members and the public we serve. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort.

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED THIS WEEK AS WE FIGHT FOR A SUCCESSOR MOU 

Local 1014 Bargaining Team continues to meet every Thursday with the County and the Department to work out details that might bring us to a deal and a successor MOU agreement.  Local 1014 is committed to working towards a fair and fundable contract, and with ALL OF PUBLIC SAFETY we remain out, and at the table with LACOLA (Lifeguards) and ALADS and PPOA (Sheriff’s) all out of contract 6 months with no deal in place.   

The other Large Union in the County, SEIU 721,  settled with a three year deal with terms that can be viewed here, and the adopted our Fringe Benefits settlement and rates of 8% per year over three years for a total of 24% increases in premium.  CCU Unions set that bar along with access to the 401k for our members also.  CCU Unions are just now getting to the table as well which will include our 603 and 604 Units which are the non-safety tables.  This Tentative Agreement is the master agreement for “Common Language” for all their units, but they still have individual tables that are continuing to bargain for unit issues. 

Local 1014 remains committed to Plan C enhancements covering income into retirement and also contributions to the Retiree Medical Trust we set up to provide for spousal and dependent medical premium in retirement.  

In addition we are working on other special unit bonus’ and working on some very creative proposal that will put money in our pockets, but also work to keep bodies in the stations and retain those bodies as well.  We have put together a total package deal that will begin to take shape as the final tentative agreement, and we have much work to do with the Fire Chief also where some proposals we jointly support but battle Big County on for embrace.  The BOS become the principal authority over the CEO as we begin to work the deal points to a finish.  

We are far from done and still remain a good deal apart on some key salary issues, and we may find ourselves in a place to “Work to the Rule” and may even need to use Mediation and Fact Finding where a third party steps in to rule on issues relative to funding and cost for proposals we have in place.  The work each week is long and hard, but we are happy to report on a number proposal items garnered T/A in the process including protecting our grievances and arbitration protections.  

We will update you as we begin to move the total package to the BOS and CEO with Fire Chief Support to try and gain the Votes to support a contract we can agree will be proper.  Absent a deal the Union supports putting forward with a recommendation to support for ratification vote, then we will be working alongside all other public safety groups without a contract and of course with everyone in the County so far getting zero for year one, we have nothing to lose keeping the table hard and with edges to land a proper public safety deal, so be prepared to stay the course as we get this done.  We will also let you know if and when we need our memberships help to carry the message to the BOS and to the Public to generate the support for a fair contract for our membership.

Much like Resilience , and our release to the public and Supervisors we are prepared to carry our message direct to our community partners in small business, churches, schools and the house of LABOR at the LA FEDERATION OF LABOR  to do what we need to do to being a deal home. Our labor partners are ready to stand with us as they always do when we need them, and we stand with them now as they need us as well.   We stand ready for any and all actions necessary to get it done. 
 

ENGINEERS ACADEMY - HOMELESS INITIATIVE 

The first Engineers to ever have 4 weeks of training to include elements of Driver Operator 1A, 1B and 1C, Wildland Firefighting, Pumping Operations, and Truck Operations are set to finish their training on Monday and will be in the field beginning on Tuesday.  

First, we want to thank all the members who put themselves out there to be considered for this trial program, and put the time and effort needed to get it done.  We built off of the Captains Academy Program which was 6 weeks of Training and put together a very good training program for the future engineers.  We have staffing issues that will require additional Captains and Engineers as soon as we can, even after the special promotions with this program, which only allows us to bypass Big County DHR and run our own program for the emergent need to deal with the homeless crisis.  

This program is only temporary, and while we really like the elements of the program and the training for Officers and Drivers of our Department to be formally and substantially trained before they are in the positions.  It makes so much sense to most, but also the selection process utilizing seniority and training as well as the program itself was not perfect and has some issues to be worked out if in fact we want to negotiate with the Department for a permanent path of promotion different than the regular exams with DHR and Civil Service Protections in the process.  

We will be meeting with the Department to discuss the options and whether or not we want to radically and permanently change the system to base it on selection and training with a pass fail academy.  The premise is sound, but the devil, as always, would be in the details.  No matter we are pushing the Department to continue the preparation and process to continue with existing Captain and Engineer Exam processes with tests and list being built so we do not fall behind again in all ranks for staffing.  

Once again, thank you to the new Engineers who will be hitting the stations on Tuesday, and just in time for brush season, will be getting the reps in this summer.  Good luck to all!  
 

REMINDER – NEXT WEEK IS THE BEAR CLASSIC!

The annual L.A. County Softball Tournament, organized by Ruben Ortiz and his incredible family, returns to raise funds for the L.A. County and West Covina Fire Explorer programs.

This beloved tournament has grown into one of the best “Fire Family” events of the year and will kick off early the morning of June 27 at the Field of Dreams in West Covina.

Good luck to all the teams — and a huge THANK YOU to the Ortiz family for your unwavering commitment to the future of the fire service and our amazing Explorers!