Brothers and Sisters,

Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte joined Fire Chief Anthony Marrone and Battalion Chief Eric Suarez of the Association of Chiefs in leading our Fire Family in remembering and honoring our three brothers taken from us far too soon.

“This job can be hard on all of us. Over the years, we have seen that some will pay the price for this work far too early, and all of us carry the scars of what we have witnessed in service to others.”

Captains Henry Flores, David Gonzales, and Michael Mercado dedicated their lives to serving the people of Los Angeles County with courage, honor, and compassion. Their commitment to this profession and to our communities will never be forgotten.

We know we will see our brothers again someday. Until then, we stand beside their families, just as our Fire Family always does. They have done their part, and we will carry their memory forward with honor and pride.

We Shall Never Forget.

SCR 170 PASSES UNANIMOUSLY ON SENATE FLOOR

Senate Concurrent Resolution 170 (SCR 170), recognizing Firefighter Mental Health Awareness Week from May 25–29, passed unanimously on the Senate Floor with Assembly concurrence.

Senator Grayson addressed the Senate regarding the vital work firefighters perform throughout California and the lasting impact mental health injuries can have on those who serve. In addition to the physical dangers of this profession, legislators acknowledged the emotional and psychological toll firefighters face throughout their careers.

Senators from across the state rose in support of the resolution, sharing stories of firefighters in their own districts and voicing support for continued efforts to address behavioral health injuries through proactive resources and protections. Discussions highlighted the importance of peer support programs, culturally competent clinicians, Post-Traumatic Stress Injury presumptions, and other critical behavioral health tools for firefighters and first responders.

Our own Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who is expected to be a leading candidate for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, joined Senators Rubio, Richardson, Stern, and many of their colleagues in specifically recognizing the service and sacrifices of Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014 members. The resolution ultimately received unanimous support from the Senate.

During our time in Sacramento, Local 1014 leadership also met with Senators and Assemblymembers to discuss AB 1383, which continues to advance through the legislative process. The bill seeks meaningful retirement reform for post-PEPRA members by addressing retirement costs and retirement age requirements.

Local 1014 remains fully engaged throughout the legislative session as we continue fighting to move AB 1383 to the Governor’s desk.

We'll keep members updated as these efforts move forward.

CALIFORNIA CONTRACT CITIES ANNUAL MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE

Local 1014 joined our labor partners, Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, and Executive Staff in Palm Desert for the annual California Contract Cities Association Municipal Conference. Each year, city council members, city managers, community leaders, and business partners from throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding regions gather to collaborate on public safety, infrastructure, funding, and service priorities impacting our communities.

This year, Local 1014 stood alongside our SAFER LA COUNTY coalition, a partnership of public safety unions and building trades organizations working to secure Binding Arbitration for Los Angeles County employees. Together with ALADS, LACOLA, PPOA, and the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, we continue building support for a November ballot measure that would provide employees with Binding Arbitration during contract negotiations.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath led the effort to place the measure before voters, with Supervisor Hilda Solis seconding the motion. Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger joined in support, resulting in a 4-0 vote to place the measure on the November ballot. 

The Contract Cities, local businesses, and community leaders throughout Los Angeles County remain critical partners in delivering services, securing funding, and supporting the overall success of our region. Local 1014 and our coalition partners emphasized the importance of standing together and asked these community stakeholders to support firefighters and public safety professionals in our effort to secure fair and balanced negotiations through Binding Arbitration.

Local 1014, alongside ALADS, addressed a packed audience during the conference, where strong support for the measure continued to grow.

The conference also highlighted the extraordinary services provided daily by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, including firefighting operations, paramedic services, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Hazardous Materials response, Air Operations, wildland firefighting, Health HazMat, Fire Prevention, Dispatch services, and heavy equipment capabilities. The level of service provided by our members remains second to none, and our partner cities continue to recognize and appreciate the professionalism and dedication of Local 1014 firefighters.

We will continue keeping members informed as the Binding Arbitration effort moves forward toward the November election.

Retirement Planning: Maximizing Your 401(k) and 457 Benefits

Local 1014 continues working to ensure our members have the tools and information needed to maximize the benefits negotiated through your Union.

Recently, Local 1014 Vice President Tony Carcioppolo and Treasurer Matt Duhamell hosted both an in-person presentation and webinar with Empower, the administrators of our 457 and newly negotiated 401(k) plans. The sessions focused on helping members better understand the new 401(k) benefit, how to maximize the County’s 4% match, and the various retirement planning options available through both plans.

Members received information on contribution strategies, including selecting at least 4.2% to 4.5% contributions to capture every available County matching dollar. Empower also covered pre-tax versus post-tax contribution options, potential mega backdoor Roth IRA strategies, disbursement planning, and retirement tax considerations for the years ahead.

Local 1014 is currently working with Empower to distribute the presentation materials to all members. 

We encourage all members to take an active role in planning for their financial future. Visit https://www.empower.com/ to review your 457 and 401(k) accounts and learn more about the benefits available to you. As always, members should consult with qualified financial and tax professionals when making retirement planning decisions.

Your Union remains committed to protecting and strengthening the financial future of our membership — both during your career and into retirement.