Recently the Department, under the direction of an Acting Chief Deputy and Acting Deputy Chief, put out a directive which changes the work rules on how Fire Safety Officer (FSO) spots are filled and worked by members in Fire Prevention.  Local 1014 believes the Department has improperly applied Civil Service Rules and County Codes in making these changes and has violated our MOU by not meeting with the Union to discuss these changes. The Department went so far as to take overtime monies away from employees that had already worked and the overtime had been approved. Bad decision.

Your Board of Directors wanted to make sure that everyone who may be or already has been affected by this understands that we are not taking this action lightly.  We are holding accountable the administrators (Chief Officers) who made this decision and implemented it without following the rule and procedures (which they are so quick to cite).

Local 1014 has been trying to meet with the decision makers of this directive but have been met with only resistance (do not let the Chiefs memo fool you that the department is reaching out to us). Unfortunately from our prospective, the Department has left us no other choice but to push forward with all actions available to us, which began with a Cease and Desist letter to Chief Osby and will be followed by the filing of a Grievance General In Character (GGIC).

Be aware, if you worked an FSO overtime after September 1, 2011 you should check your pay warrant to make sure you were properly paid and report any shortages to Payroll. If anyone is required to work a FSO spot as part of their regular scheduled day and outside of their regular daily duties you should ask that this request be put in writing as a Direct Order, If you have any issues contact 1014 immediately. The Department enters into contracts with businesses for these FSO position at well above the overtime rate it pays our members, one would think the minimal overtime compensation our members received for working these position was coming directly out of these Chiefs pockets.  The fact is, it’s coming out of our member’s pockets.

Your Board of Directors will always work with our Department to find savings, we will continue to protect against attacks of our pensions which affects all of us. But we will not stand back and allow a few Chiefs to force through their ideas and opinions which affect our membership without a fight.  Fire prevention members we will be having meetings soon addressing this, and other issues specifically affecting prevention.  Watch for upcoming meeting announcements.

Fraternally

Your Local 1014 Board of Directors