This week, your Local 1014 Executive Board has continued the long and grueling negotiations process with the County of Los Angeles. We met with them multiple times over the past two weeks to grind out the final items on the successor MOU including specialty bonuses, additional MOU items and the establishment of a Behavioral Health Program, often meeting well into the night to get the best contract for our members. Next week, we are scheduled to continue negotiations. We will keep you updated as we progress towards a contract that takes care of all our members. Once a tentative agreement is reached, we will be sending it to our members for a ratification vote.

Yesterday, we celebrated the retirement of Brother John B. Tripp, “The Firefighter’s Chief,” who is retiring after 30+ years of service to the County of Los Angeles. The event was well attended by past members, legends of the LA County Fire Department as well as past 1014 Board Members.  Brother Tripp has remained a Local 1014 Brother his entire career and has always been a man of character dedicated to the fire service and our members. On behalf of our members, we thank Brother Tripp for his years of dedicated passion and mentorship.

Additionally, last weekend, our Executive Board also attended the grand opening of the Los Angeles County Fire Museum in Bellflower. More than three decades in the making, the museum is a multipurpose venue, housing antique fire engines and memorabilia as well as serving as an event venue. Special thanks to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum Association for preserving our history for future generations.

If you have the opportunity, please make the effort to visit and get a chance to see first-hand the rich history of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and its Firefighters. The museum is located at 16400 Bellflower Boulevard in Bellflower, for more information, visit www.lacountyfiremuseum.com.