Time to lead!
Posted On: Mar 03, 2015

TIME TO LEAD!

There are a great many things that we have worked with the Department on throughout the years and we recognize that.  Whenever we can we will collaborate and or negotiate to get good results and we are often seeking the same target for our profession.  However there are times when we will be adverse to the Department’s actions and be in disagreement with the Department and the Fire Chief’s actions and we will call them in to question. This is one of those times.

Recently the Chief sent out EA-90 attempting to address the “County of Los Angeles Auditor Controller’s Report” and the mess that has accompanied this item in the media.  These words not only came up woefully short, but were disrespectful to the situation and to the membership who work so hard to do more with less, and serve valiantly.  We are not some data point that is simply tracked as a “positive outcome”, we are in the business of fixing problems during times of extreme duress, chaos, and in fact in the business of saving lives; a career of character, not just a job.

The Membership of Local 1014, representing the Fire Fighters, Paramedics and Fire Personnel  along with the Chief Officers of the AOC and the many Union and Non-Represented workers, share a rich tradition and history of “Exemplary Service”.  We serve DESPITE anchors of mediocrity that occasionally challenge us from the minority.  It will not be a difficult time for us because we are resilient and strong and can push through the heaviest of times to get it done.  It will however, be difficult for the Fire Chief and upper staff if they continue to feed into the mess and effectively fail to deal with the issues in an honest and forthright way as leaders of this Department.

It is “TIME TO LEAD” - “ONE BADGE, ONE BEAR, ONE SHARE”.  We all own this job as single share owners and we have a right to expect that each share lifts its weight, from Recruit to Fire Chief.  The members of Local 1014 along with the rest of the LA County Fire Department workforce make it happen every day, all day.  It is time for the Fire Chief to rise up and take responsibility for that which is broken and that, which is not.  As well as provide a way to address it and defend our Department and those who work hard to make it all happen despite the failures of a few mainly in his staff.

While we can take stock in so many things that are going right, there are clearly so many items that are beginning to stack up that are going wrong.  I will not name them all here, but rather highlight two and call to the Fire Chief’s attention, the buck stops with him on these items.

The first is all of the items that have brought our great Department into the limelight of the press recently and Chief it is time to take responsibility and work with Labor to ensure a fair and equitable testing system for entry level and promotional tests similar to the CPAT administered through the CFF-JAC. I will be in contact with the Fire Chief on this subject and I expect he will support an entry level examination process and a promotional exam process that ensures a fair and unbiased exam process that seeks the best quality candidates regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, familial relationships or any other criteria.  Support for a system where simply, “There shall be no unfair advantage to anyone, but no unfair disadvantage to anyone”.

STOP THE CELL ANTENNAS – PROTECT OUR SAFETY

The second item involves the Firefighters and other employees of this Department that the Fire Chief is putting in harm’s way and endangering their lives as well as the lives of the very citizens he is sworn to protect.  Are his words just words or will he back them up with actions?  The LA RICS project that he has been involved with and on the Board since its inception is bordering on complete failure.  The short story on this is he has backed 20 year old FCC Health and Safety Standards and questionable technology that will put the firefighters and personnel and communities we serve in an extreme health risk situation with regard to RF Emissions.  We will be providing him with additional Health and Safety information that the Local has had to obtain in order properly assess the RF Emissions that will hit our personnel and citizens to “Prove” to the Chief and the BOS, the Health and Safety Risks that should have been readily apparent from the initial information he had, or simply failed to review.  He has stated in the Department “Strategic Plan” that the number one goal is the “HEALTH AND SAFETY” of the membership.  Well, it is time for him to put his money where his mouth is and stand up for what is right and put a STOP to the illegal and very harmful construction of the Cell Antennas going into our Stations and our Communities.

We have the support of the Citizens, the Elected Officials, and the Firefighters he is sworn to serve and protect… we are calling for your support on this issue to protect not only firefighters and paramedics and the workforce, but the women and children we are sworn to serve.  Do not put money or politics before the safety of the human beings you have a responsibility to protect.  This will not go away, and as you know we are in the heat of battle on the issue and things are starting to crumble around you.  Take bold and decisive action now to put an end to the madness that even a 5th grader off the street could make a decision on to “JUST SAY NO!” 

This is just the beginning of the “TIME TO LEAD” series of communications as we move into a very trying time with regard to the future of our Department.  We stand committed to work with the Department when and where we can to reach common goals and objectives, but we also stand committed to call into question and to call into accountability his actions and the Department actions to protect our Department as well as our Members. “TIME TO LEAD”… “ONE BADGE – ONE BEAR – ONE SHARE”

I have directly communicated with the Fire Chief that we believe we are at a point of shattered confidence bordering on no confidence in the handling of these issues and there are more issues that feed into this and the next 3 to 6 months will be critical for us all in where we go and what our future holds, including his.  We will expect top performance from our leader…end of story.  

Dave Gillotte – President Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

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