AFSCME LOCAL 685 LEGEND RALPH MILLER REMEMBERED AND HONORED AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD AT PLAZA DE LA RAZA IN DOWNTOWN LA 

Labor leaders from throughout LA County and the nation descended on the small park in the Plaza to bring stories, recognition, and honor to the passing of one of the greats in the Labor Movement.

Ralph Miller was born on August 13, 1948, in Alabama. He attended Alabama State University before graduating from California Lutheran University, where he earned recognition not only for his academic excellence but also for his leadership. As chair of the Black Student Union and a key player on the university’s national championship football team, Ralph’s passion for both academics and athletics shone brightly.

Ralph’s football career was as impressive as his academic one. He played for multiple professional teams, including the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He also had stints in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts, and in the World Football League. However, Ralph’s most profound legacy in the sport was his work as a founding member of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and as a player representative in all three major leagues. Alongside Kermit Alexander, he took a stand against the NFL in 1974, successfully suing to establish the Alexander Rule, ensuring players received their full salaries during strikes and even a share of team income.

After retiring from professional football, Ralph made the decision to serve his community in a new capacity. In 1976, he joined the Los Angeles County Probation Department, where he worked in various roles, including Central Juvenile Hall, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Camp Barley Flats, and the East L.A. Area Office. Ralph quickly rose through the ranks and became a union steward in 1977, just three months after joining the department.

Ralph’s union journey was marked by his commitment to improving the lives of probation officers and their families. In 1978, he was elected to the Local 685 Executive Board, and in 1997, he became the union president—a position he held with great pride for 21 years until his retirement in 2018.

Ralph Miller served alongside President Gillotte at the County Coalition of Unions (CCU) and was an integral part of the bargaining team for the last 25 years helping secure increases in our active and retiree medical, dental and vision premiums. He worked hard not only on behalf of his own members, but also standing side by side with Local 1014 members anytime anyplace we needed Probation Officers Union support.

Ralph will rest in power, but his legacy will be felt for many years to come in the faces of his own family and every family member in the CCU who continues to benefit from his hard work.

We are forever grateful to have known you as a labor leader and as a human. 

STATE SENATOR MARIA ELENA DURAZO LAUNCHES HER BID FOR BOARD OF SUPERVISOR (BOS) DISTRICT 1 CURRENTLY HELD BY SUPERVISOR HILDA SOLIS

Maria Elena Durazo grew up in the fields with migrant worker parents and knew early on about fighting for fair working conditions and labor rights. She went on to lead UNITE HERE Local 11 in Los Angeles, helping hotel workers, including housekeepers, earn a respectable living and the ability to keep their tips as well. A fighter for all, she went on to become the Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the LA Federation of Labor representing over 850,000 Union workers in Los Angeles. Standing tall with Local 1014 on every issue including fighting Prop 32, 75 and supporting our latest Measure E, Maria Elena Durazo went on to join the California Senate where she currently serves and has carried many CPF and Local 1014 issues. Some of the work of the Senator are the following:

• SB 629 (Keeping Communities Safe from Wildfire): This bill aims to enhance wildfire resilience by automatically designating areas that have burned in a wildfire within the very high fire hazard severity zone. This designation triggers the application of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building code and requirements for defensible space maintenance. It also mandates annual defensible space inspections to ensure compliance. This bill is considered a crucial step by Senator Durazo in ensuring homes can better survive wildfires.
• Golden State Commitment Wildfire Package: Senator Durazo is a joint author of this legislative package, which includes several bills aimed at strengthening the state's wildfire response and recovery. While the package encompasses various measures, a key element relevant to firefighters is the proposed transition of seasonal CAL FIRE firefighters to full-time, permanent status. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of wildfire response teams.
• Senate Bill 1044 (Emergency Working Conditions): This bill, signed into law, aims to protect workers during natural disasters by ensuring their ability to keep themselves safe on the job, particularly in life-or-death situations. While not exclusively focused on firefighters, this legislation recognizes the critical need for safety during emergency conditions, which is highly relevant to the work of firefighters.
• SB 951 (Paid Family Leave): Enacted in 2024, this bill significantly increases paid family leave benefits, making it more affordable for workers, including firefighters, to take time off for family and medical reasons. This provides support for firefighters who may need to take leave due to injury, illness, or to care for family members.

HOMELESS INITIATIVE EMERGENCY ORDER HIRING  

Prospective Engineers who were selected based on seniority and experience descended this past week to kick off a grueling 4 weeks of training and testing to earn their way to the next rank of Engineer in the LA County Fire Department. Local 1014 members were practicing and working hard even prior to day 0 of the Engineers Academy where elements of 1A, 1B, 1C, Truck Operations, and Wildland Firegihting will be taught and tested more than any Engineers Exam in both written and manipulative skills.

The 60 candidates are to be commended for stepping up to the challenge of the all hands on deck training program, similar to the Captains Emergency Hire program with more written exams, block exams, and manipulative training than we have ever embarked on before.

While this emergency hiring is only authorized under a temporary approval of the Board of Supervisors we hope to examine the pros and cons and if more effective, we may bargain to move to a different manner of testing than Trivial Pursuit Written Exams, and Grinder Roulette Engineers Practicals where one good day or one bad day can rule the day. There may, in fact, be a better way to utilize the talents of the Training Services Cadre and Seasoned Experts in the crafts of the Trade for Captain and Engineer!

Good luck to All Members rising to the challenge!
 

2025 BEAR CLASSIC!

Mark Your Calendar! Let’s do something great for the LA County and Covina Explorers with Ruben and his family's heart and soul in the BEAR CLASSIC!

If you are not playing or cannot attend, consider working for someone who is! Let’s have some fun and raise some money for a great cause!