Many members have been asking about the Camps and the potential of having to close two CDC Camps. Members have been repeating rumors and some Department representatives have been misquoting partial truths and data that have created an uncertainty for our members who work at the camps to include approximately 18 foreman and a couple of superintendents.
To be clear and help the members working in the CDC Camps, there is a funding problem with the CDC budget and the monies that they pay to contract with us to provide the supervision for the fire camps. The funding gap or reduction that the CDC shortfall has created is approximately 3.5 million dollars annually, and that would equate to approximately two camps or 11 crews.
If the funding gap cannot be resolved, then yes the camps could close and we would be in the business of protecting our member’s rights according to the contract with regard to displacement and preferentials, bids, etc. This is the easy part to deal with and is very clear and if we have to deal with these things, we will handle the issues when and if they are before us. For now, do not listen to rumors or partial details from anyone to include managers…unless it is coming from me or the Fire Chief himself in the form of an official communication, it is probably not accurate.
The latest update is that we are a long way off from panic mode, and we continue to work with the Department to plan and lobby to keep the funding and the contract whole and in place not just for this year, but for additional years as well. We have many tools to deal with the problem which involves negotiating a fair deal and resolve with the CDC to keep our camps open. The Fire Chief will continue to negotiate and work with the CDC to reach a deal.
I have been very busy dealing with the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Pro-Tem and the Governor’s office in cooperation with our CPF Lobbyist Christy Bouma and President Lou Paulson to lay the groundwork to pressure the administration to fully fund the camps and as a back up to legislate the funding into our State budget if needed to protect our jobs should the negotiations and talks fail to yield a solution and a deal.
Having said all of that, I can report that the Fire Chief’s negotiations and the Unions pressure on top administration officials seems to be moving towards a fair resolution that may use some offset funding from the District and some from the State CDC budget monies to keep our camps open. There is much work to be done to get this resolved and we will keep the membership informed as details are available.
We are hopeful we can deliver positive results and we will be working on this issue in collaboration with the Department and the CPF to get it done. Thank you in advance to the Fire Chief and his staff for their commitment to work with Local 1014 on the issue and put the safe staffing levels of the camps as an integral part of our brush response a top priority. This means better service for our citizens and safety and job protections in promoted positions for our membership.
Fraternally,
Dave Gillotte
President
