IAFF Local 1014

Friday Update 9-30-22

Updated On: Oct 28, 2022

Sisters and Brothers,

The past few days we have seen our local and national fire family face unprecedented times.

In Long Beach, we join our brothers and sisters of Long Beach Fire in mourning the off-duty death of Long Beach Firefighter Gavin Escobar. Prior to being a Firefighter, Gavin Escobar played professional football for the NFL where he spent most of his time with the Dallas Cowboys. Firefighter Escobar leaves behind his wife and two young children.

In Florida, our brothers and sisters are continuing to provide service in unimaginable conditions brought on by Hurricane Ian. And in New York City, a 25-year member of the FDNY, Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling, was stabbed to death while on duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sister Russo's family and our brothers and sisters in NYC as they process the tragic loss of one of their own.

This week is a reminder of how dangerous our jobs are and how dramatically the challenges in the fire service have changed over the years. We are committed to helping our brothers and sisters get the resources and behavioral health support they need in Long Beach, Florida, and NYC.

PEER SUPPORT TRAINING

Today our Peer Support Lead Captains and Lead Peers from Lifeguards and Fire conducted a joint training on Strategic Response to Crisis - Major Emergency Incidents.

The USCG has been a partner with LA County Fire in training and education and response to their incidents and ours. It is critical we train and resource throughout the state to keep our major incidents response teams skilled in all we need to take care of our own and those affected by the incident. Incidents like 9/11, Hurricane Rita, Route 91, Granite Mountain, Christchurch Earthquake, Haiti, suicides, and fire incidents were reviewed and discussed. Response tactics, strategies and resource needs to run such incidents were also taught.

We constantly train and educate ourselves to be the best at what we do and equally to be versed to take care of our members when tragedy strikes. We see things and handle things no one can imagine seeing. We thank the USCG and our Peer Lead Team for the work and the commitment to stay one of the best and top response teams in the US.

Covid Testing Mandate

At Local 1014's request and as a result of our unfair labor practice charge, the County has rescinded the weekly testing requirement for non-vaccinated employees. While they were late and while the Fire Department waited for the County, we are pleased with the movement.

Local 1014 will continue to push the CCU and our partners to pursue with us rescinding the Emergency Order and subsequent Mandate Order. Thank you for standing together as we get Every member through this challenging time.

View CCU letter here.

The Changing of the Guard at LACERA!

Local 1014 has had a rich and powerful history and presence as we have always worked hard to elect one of our Board Members to the LACERA Board of Investments and to the LACERA Board of Retirement, and this year is no exception.

Board Member Jason Green has been elected to BOTH the Board of Investments and to the Board of Retirement.  The election results are unofficial and will be official once the LA County Board of Supervisors certifies the results through adoption.

Will Pryor, our long-time Local 1014 Officer and LACERA Board member, has served our membership at the highest level of commitment and expertise over the last 20-plus years, and he has guided and mentored Director Green and will continue to shadow Green until he is set and under his own steam protecting and advancing our retirement system. We thank Brother Pryor and will continue to enjoy his expertise long beyond the transition of the Board.

The Board of Retirement is responsible for all procedures and policies and review of retirements, including service-connected disabilities. The Board of Investments is responsible for the financial health and policies and procedures for our retirement system. Rates of return, investments, and benefit levels from a fiduciary perspective for all LA County Employees are under their control. Public Safety Unions have the ability to elect public safety members to the LACERA Boards.

We thank you our members for getting out the Fire vote, and we thank LACOLA (Lifeguards) and ALADS and PPOA (Sheriff’s) Unions for their support as we work to ensure all Public Safety Members Defined Benefit Pensions and Healthcare are funded, and at the highest level of benefits we can offer.

Thank you again to Brother and Local 1014 Board Officer Will Pryor and Congratulations to Brother and Local 1014 Director Jason Green. Let the work continue, and let us grow our retirement system even stronger than it is.

In Solidarity We Work to the Rule,

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board