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Brothers and Sisters,
Local 1014 Executive Board / Department Executive Staff Offsite Summit Meeting
On Wednesday, July 19th, President Gillotte and Fire Chief Marrone will host an offsite summit with both the Local 1014 Executive Board and the Executive Staff of the Department to discuss and negotiate and collaborate on solutions and actions to ensure our Department is on a path for sound operations, MOU compliance and funding. This will be the third off-site summit between the Union and the Department. As in years past, we look forward to candid and vigorous discussions on issues like our budget shortfall, expenditures and revenues, workers' compensation issues, getting our members back to work, disciplinary and investigatory processes, workplace conflict, legislation and policy in Sacramento and DC to benefit our Department, Measure “F” in 2024, staffing, and, of course, as has been patiently awaited, a final discussion with the joint labor-management committee on a proposed 48/96 trial shift schedule. We have made very candid and detailed arguments in the past two months to seek the Chief's support with benefit to both the members and the Department, and we look forward to a final decision on the proposal.
This meeting will net agreements, policies and actions addressing the budget, contract cities, and staffing levels that the Department as of now wanted to reduce. We have held the line and see many other ways to solve the budget issues before working short is on the table. Stay tuned. We look to present to the membership a full accounting of what was discussed and the actions resulting from the meeting. |
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Pushing Innovations and Technology for the Fire Service
This week, Local 1014 joined with the Department to assess whether or not we wanted to be one of 10 departments nationally to work with the Fire Administration and manufacturers to help develop the next generation of tech tools that will allow our members to see in the dark on fires.
The thermal imager was undoubtedly a game changer for our profession for fire location, search and rescue, and mayday situations. However, thermal imagers require us to hold them in our hands and this can be a hindrance while we are actively fighting fire or using other tools. The Department and Union met with representatives from Qwake Technologies to view and test C-THRU helmet-mounted communications and imaging cameras with thermal imaging embedded. The Union and Department have a unique ability to use our JAC funds and search for grant funds to test this new and innovative technology that allows the hands-free ability to see images and heat. It also has a compass location tool to help firefighters find their way back to where they entered the building or to find each other on a mayday. The helmet-mounted units also communicate the data and images to the command post for an integrated accountability system protecting our members.
Engine 9 with President Gillotte and his crew, members at TSS, and Chief Ewald met at the drill tower at LAO to put the units to the test. Based on the first round of evaluation, the Union will support a recommendation to the Department to field test 25 units with our TSS and the Burn Cadre and determine if field testing in a battalion would be merited. This is exciting and we are on the ground floor to have input back to the manufacturers as they build the systems that we may consider and potentially use.
We want to thank TSS and all those who helped put the drill tower test conditions together so we could evaluate the units. More as we further develop this, but LA County is pushing to be back on top of innovating and creating the future of our profession in EMS and Fire Operations. We will bring you more information on other related projects we have launched for equipment development and policy change to protect our members. |
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601/602 Contract items
Local 1014 has fought hard to ensure that all the missing retro pay has been compensated to our members. Please reference your pay warrant with the issue date of 7/14/2023 to ensure you have received any missing compensation. We have sampled employees of different ranks, and classifications and have found no errors on any of the outstanding retro pay. Review your paycheck and remember not all members will be getting additional retro pay. Examples of areas where retro pay fell short were in ALT OT, and work down overtime. These shortages also conversely affected premium overtime. We will continue to fight to make sure every penny is accounted for. If you feel you still have an error please reach out to Local 1014.
In other exciting news, we would like to remind members that starting July 1, 2023, our 3.25% raise goes into effect. Please note you will not see it reflected on your pay warrant until July 31, 2023. This was part of a long hard fought contract negotiation and we are pleased to see our members get the pay they deserve.
Staffing Survey
Please be ready for the launch of the next staffing survey coming soon! It will address the trial period we have been under with EA-68. All members' participation is encouraged. If you have members in your station who have not signed up for the union website please have them do so. We want as many participants from all ranks to participate. Also, thank you to those who have attended union meetings and provided valuable input regarding questions.
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| This week, your Local 1014 Vice Presidents Tony Carrioppolo and Kurt Kobler met with Congresswoman Norma Torres, a longtime supporter of labor and our members. We discussed critical issues affecting our members at the federal level and ways we can work together to ensure that our communities and our members get what they deserve. Political action is one of the most important things we do to ensure that when continue to get the wages, hours working conditions, and resources we need to do our jobs, stay safe, and provide for our families. |
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FSA Hiring Update
Conditional Job Offers have now been extended to all the eligible FSAs remaining in the Camps who were hired off the Firefighter Trainee list. It was a hard lift by your Local 1014 Board but through the combined efforts of our team and Chief Marrone, we got it done.
To the FSAs, now that you have the CJOs, you will get a shot at the academy. What is needed on your part are equal parts patience and persistence. Schedule your medical and get it done as soon as possible. Stay in touch with your background investigator and promptly provide everything needed to complete your investigation. Once you’ve cleared medicals and backgrounds, know that you’ll get your shot and be patient. Don’t listen to schoolhouse rumors. If it comes from your Superintendent or Local 1014, consider it good info. If you hear a rumor from others that something is or isn’t happening, consider it inapplicable to you. Nod, smile, and go on with your day. Gossip won’t help you get a tower date and it won’t help you get through the academy.
You are valued Local 1014 members and we are dedicated to making sure every one of you has a shot at the tower. Stay in shape, learn everything you can work hard, and be ready. You never know when your day will arrive and when it does, it pays to be ready.
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REMINDER: We are calling on local artists and those in our fire family to submit proposals for a permanent art installation to be installed at Station 81. This art installation is meant to not only provide a remembrance site for our Brother Tory Carlon, but also provide a place of healing for those most impacted by this incident and a reminder of the importance of our Fire Family and behavioral health in the fire service.
The art project will be installed at LACoFD Station 81 in Agua Dulce. The project must provide 1) a memorial and remembrance for Brother Tory Carlon, 2) emphasize the importance of our Fire Family and 3) provide a reflective space that emphasizes the importance of behavioral health in the fire service.
While we will be accepting submissions from the local community, we will give preference to members of our Fire Family who submit projects.
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In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board |
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