| |
|
|
Brothers and Sisters,
As we gather with our families to celebrate this Thanksgiving, many of us after spending more than a week away from our families due to the Woolsey Fire, we pause to reflect on all that we are grateful for this holiday.
We are thankful for you, our members, and for the passion and dedication you bring to the job each and every day as you serve the residents of Los Angeles County. We work for one of the greatest fire service agencies in the world and that's because of the men and women who make it happen each and every day. Last week, we witnessed so many acts of bravery and heroism by each one of our members and Firefighters throughout the State as we battled an unprecedented firestorm throughout California.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims from the Woolsey and Camp Fires, and their families this holiday. If you would like to donate to the relief effort for victims please visit the California Fire Foundation website.
We also had nearly 70 Firefighters throughout California lose their homes as they were fighting on the fire line. The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund provides immediate financial assistance to help these displaced Firefighters and their families while they continue to serve the surrounding communities. If you would like to help, please donate today.
It is an honor to serve and protect the citizens of Los Angeles County and we will always be grateful for the strong unity we have in Local 1014. We hope that this holiday weekend, you enjoy your families, the bounty of food at your table, and your many blessings.
On behalf of the dedicated members of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and send special thoughts and prayers to those serving in our military abroad and to those serving in our fire stations, dispatch centers and in the community this holiday.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
Brothers & Sisters,
Due to the Woolsey Fire, the Local 1014 Executive Board has voted to extend the election period by one week in order to allow all members the opportunity to submit their ballots. WE WILL ACCEPT BALLOTS THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018.
Many of our members have been working an excess of 7 to 10 days in a row and have been embedded at the Woolsey Camp. This extension will allow time for our members to mail in their ballots over the next few days.
If you have not received your ballot, please contact the Union office immediately at 800-334-6285.
Remember:
- Ballots must be postmarked by U.S. Postal Service and received at the Post Office Box by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, in order to be counted!
- No hand-carried ballots will be accepted at the Union Hall or at the Post Office.
Ballots will be counted on Tuesday, November 27th by California Elections Company (CEC) and results will be posted to the web and sent to stations and sites.
Thank you in advance for your vote and your voice.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
FRIDAY UPDATE
Brothers & Sisters,
This has been an extremely challenging week for our members, our families and the communities we serve.Thank you to all of our members who have served during this siege.
The Woolsey Fire has now burned nearly 100,000 acres, destroyed over 400 structures and caused 4 deaths. This is no doubt the worst fire in the County’s history and certainly in recent memory. We have deployed 450 fire engines, 40 water tankers, 22 helicopters flying day and night and 50 bulldozers to fight back this fire. We are also ensuring that we continue to fully staff our stations to protect the rest of the 2,307 square mile LA County Fire District.
We created the rules as we went to staff our rigs with two shifts per rig. We pulled rigs from everywhere to fill 27 strike teams while at the same time covering our vast area of LA County with fire and paramedic service. We moved Orange County Fire Department rigs into our stations to help while we drew down hard to get it done. Local 1014 Dispatchers, Forestry and Health HazMat, FSA’s, and Heavy Equipment all pulled hard to help get it done. We should all be proud of our efforts.
Thank you to Chief Daryl Osby for communicating early and often on this fire and empowering his staff to work with our Local 1014 Executive Board to create solutions to staffing and working condition issues. As for our ongoing recall issues for strike teams and seven-day staffing issues, we were able to get these addressed by the Chief from the operations briefing area where we told him it was held up at OPS. There will be more action on the staffing items in the coming weeks.
Additionally, for the first time ever, we formed 'Occupancy Support Strike Teams.' These teams went out into the communities devastated by the loss of homes to help them repopulate and look for lost treasures, records and photos etc. There were many small victories in the middle of this tragedy such as the strike team that helped a woman find antiques and heirloom rings from her grandmother amidst the rubble of her home (pictured below). This was an emotional moment for her and our strike team members were humbled to restore a little piece of her life amidst the ashes
We would like to thank to Governor Elect Gavin Newsom and State Senator Henry Stern for taking time this week to join our first responders on the front line and shadow our Peer SupportTeams. We thank them both for their commitment to getting our members more resources and more behavioral health support not only on this incident but long term. Our Peer Support Teams have been fighting the fire on the front lines while offering support for our fellow brothers and sisters. We are committed to getting our members the help they need both physically and emotionally. We embedded Peer Teams at both the Woolsey Fire and the Camp Fire. We had over 60 Firefighters lose their homes throughout California, one Firefighter run over by a car, and we had peer support needs for Firefighters from last week’s Borderline shooting. Thank you to all our Peer Support Team Leaders who have been spearheading this monumental effort.
 
 
Tomorrow, President Dave Gillotte will be joining President Trump’s tour of the Woosley Fire. On behalf of our members, we will continue to ensure that all our elected representatives from every level of government know the challenges our members face here in Los Angeles County, not just during wildfires but every day, as we protect the residents of Los Angeles County with limited resources and staffing.
To that end, we also provided a tour of the fire site to our Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer and used it as an opportunity to explain the harsh conditions our members face out in the field and again lobby for our contract to come to a resolution.
We would also like to thank IAFF 10th District Vice President Frank Lima and CPF President Brian Rice who have been instrumental in getting our members and members of our surrounding locals the help they need.
On behalf of the Local 1014 Executive Board, we are proud and honored to represent the men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
Brothers & Sisters,
By now everyone should have received his or her 1014 Election Ballot. If you have not, please contact the Union office immediately at 800-334-6285.
Remember:
- Ballots must be postmarked by U.S. Postal Service and receivedat the Post Office Box by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, in order to be counted!
- No hand-carried ballots will be accepted at the Union Hall or at the Post Office.
Ballots will be counted on Tuesday, November 20th by California Elections Company (CEC) and results will be posted to the web and sent to stations and sites.
Thank you in advance for your vote and your voice.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
Brothers & Sisters,
The Woolsey Fire has now grown to over 70,000 acres destroying at least 150 structures. The Camp Fire has now spread to over 90,000 acres and destroyed an astonishing 6,500 homes.
 
While thousands of our first responders are working day and night to protect lives and property, many of them have homes in the path of these fires and several have already lost their homes.
The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund provides immediate financial assistance to help these displaced Firefighters and their families while they continue to serve the surrounding communities.
If you are a union member and have lost your home, click here to register for IAFF Disaster Relief Fund and contact your Local 1014 Executive Board.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
FRIDAY UPDATE
Brothers & Sisters,
This week has been a difficult week with the news of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks claiming the lives of 12 people including a Ventura County Sheriff. Our LA County Peers in conjunction with the IAFF have been providing behavioral health support for those affected including first responders. Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters at Ventura County Professional Firefighters Local 1364 and Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Now once again, the news is flooded with images of unprecedented wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles County—this is truly becoming the “new normal.”
 
We currently have nearly 100,000 people evacuated and thousands of homes under attack throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as part of the Woolsey Fire. Our members are working day and night to protect lives and property both at home and as part of over a dozen strike teams across the State, including at the Camp Fire in Northern California which has caused at least five deaths and destroyed entire towns and over 2,300 structures.
All year long, our members face constant recalls due to short staffing and poor planning by the Department. When large scale incidents occur, our members answer the call. No matter how tired or how many hours they have worked they respond because that is our job.
Today and every day, your Executive Board is proud to represent the incredible men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department as they fight to protect our communities.
Be safe out there. Take care of each other.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
FRIDAY UPDATE
Brothers & Sisters,
We only have 4 days left until the November 2018 election on Tuesday, November 6. First and foremost, your Union is encouraging you to exercise your right and VOTE!
The following information is provided to you as a “guide” for the upcoming election. Click the link below to view recommendations from Local 1014 and California Professional Firefighters on state and local races: http://cpfvoterguide.org/1014-2
Whomever you choose to vote for this election day, please remember to vote! Many of you may have already received your absentee ballots, please remember to send those in before election day.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Today ballots and ballot statements for the Local 1014 Executive Board Elections were mailed to your homes. Just as a reminder, all ballots must be post marked by U.S. POSTAGE SERVICE and all ballots must be received at the Post Office Box by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, in order to be counted.
All ballots must go through the Post Office Box. No hand carried ballots will be accepted. Mail your ballot in early so your VOTE counts.
The following members have accepted nominations for the following offices:
PRESIDENT
Dave Gillotte (Incumbent)
1STVICE PRESIDENT
Lew Currier
2NDVICE PRESIDENT
Dave Morse
TREASURER
John Smolin (Incumbent)
DIRECTORS
Jason Cervantes (Incumbent)
Pat Dolan (Incumbent)
Kurt Kobler (Incumbent)
Domonic Finks (Incumbent)
Jason Green
Aaron Katon
Chris Reade
On a personal note, I want to thank all the incumbent Executive Board members for their years of service to this organization and for their dedication to our membership. Our Local 1014 Executive Board is the finest Union board in the state and that is in large part due to the dedication of our Executive Board and their commitment to the Union and its members.
I am proud to accept the nomination for President of our great union and I respectfully ask you return the hard-working experienced incumbent board members to the Executive Board to continue their good work fighting for our members. I am equally excited to have three very good brothers running for the two vacant seats.
On behalf of the Executive Board, I would especially like to thank our two outgoing Directors, Andy Doyle and Mike Jones, who are leaving us after many years of service. We thank them for their tireless service to our members and their families. There is no doubt that their work on this Board has made positive impact on our members and their quality of life.
Please take time to VOTE and know that it is an honor to serve you. We will work hard to continue to serve the membership in the tradition of Local 1014—Strength and Unity.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Brothers and Sisters,
We only have 17 days left until the November 2018 election on Tuesday, November 6. First and foremost, your Union is encouraging you to exercise your right and VOTE!
The following information is provided to you as a “guide” for the upcoming election. Click the link below to view recommendations from Local 1014 and California Professional Firefighters on state and local races: http://cpfvoterguide.org/1014-2
Remember, we are recommending candidates that support Firefighter issues. We would encourage you to research on your own where these candidates stand on issues that are important to you personally.
The job of the Local 1014 Executive Board is to represent your interests and to support better wages, hours, and working conditions for our members. We are often asked why we support certain elected officials. Our endorsement of candidates is based solely on their stance on Firefighter issues—this includes issues that affect our pensions, wages and working conditions. Similarly, we analyze ballot measures throughout the County and the State that impact our pensions and our service levels in various cities where we provide Fire and EMS services. They are not partisan choices and they are not based on our personal political beliefs.
Whomever you choose to vote for this election day, please remember to vote! Many of you may have already received your absentee ballots, please remember to send those in before election day.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” Don’t silence your voice, make your voice heard this November and VOTE!!
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
FRIDAY UPDATE
Brothers & Sisters,
Your Local 1014 Executive Board has been continuing the fight this week as we continue contract negotiations and concentrate our efforts on fixing our staffing and recall issues within the Department.
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
County Coalition of Unions (CCU) Fringe Benefit negotiations broke down on Wednesday, October 17, when the County negotiating team once again lacked authority to bargain over subjects and funding that would provide a fair contract for medical premiums and other fringe benefit items. The CCU will be meeting with the Board of Supervisors and involving the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor to try and get more authority and attention to our items. We will keep you posted as we continue to battle to get a fair deal at the table.
Additionally, salary negotiations continue to stall as we seek to secure not only movement on general salary, but also important bonus items for our members. We will be meeting with the CEO and the Board of Supervisors next week to try and clear up the issues that separate us from securing a tentative agreement.
All County Unions remain out, and in fact, ALADS Sheriff’s deputies who secured a Tentative Agreement have not seen one dime in their paychecks as of yet. This complex bargaining situation is a result of both the Flores decision and all Unions bargaining simultaneously resulting in many moving parts for the Board of Supervisors to consider as they seek to settle all tables. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we fight this out. We will let you know if we intend any job actions as we near impasse. We are confident we can secure a fair deal...one way or another.
STAFFING AND RECALL ISSUES
Local 1014 has been feverishly working to negotiate and amend over seven packets of staffing policy revisions to reduce the impact of recalls and shortages in our ranks. The battalion chiefs were recently moved to a 7-day out staffing by the Fire Chief following a recommendation by the staffing committee report. While we agree with the 7-day out staffing, there are so many more issues to deal with and we must gain agreement with the Fire Chief on all of those issues. The BC’s are non-represented and at will the Chief can change things as he sees fit. We have a contract which covers rules, regulations and manual of operations. There is a strict obligation to bargain in good faith over changes on the part of both the Department and the Union. This protects us when the Department wants to unilaterally change things by allowing us to reject the changes. Some of the major items we are dealing with are: 7-day out staffing, special ops unit staffing, out of county and strike team staffing, recall procedures to allow credit for recalls when someone is on a strike team assignment, days in a row worked, and more. Next Tuesday, October 23, the Chief Deputies of the Department and the Vice Presidents of the Local will meet again to try and hammer out the final items of the agreement. We will update you after the meeting. In addition to staffing issues, the Local is also working on hiring, promotions and the return to work situation which is having an adverse impact on staffing and is contributing to the recalls. The Department has failed to keep up with a long list of items including hiring, promotion, paramedic recruitment, retention, and hiring in dispatch, forestry and health hazmat, all of which has resulted in staffing shortages. Local 1014 is working on solving these problems in the absence of any Department solutions.
1014 ELECTIONS
Elections for the Local 1014 Executive Board are well underway. The following members have accepted nominations for the following offices:
PRESIDENT
Dave Gillotte (Incumbent)
1STVICE PRESIDENT
Lew Currier
2NDVICE PRESIDENT
Dave Morse
TREASURER
John Smolin (Incumbent)
DIRECTORS
Jason Cervantes (Incumbent)
Pat Dolan (Incumbent)
Kurt Kobler (Incumbent)
Domonic Finks (Incumbent)
Jason Green
Aaron Katon
Chris Reade
Ballots and ballot statements will be sent to your homes Friday, November 2, 2018. Just as a reminder, all ballots must be post marked by U.S. POSTAGE SERVICE and all ballots must be received at the Post Office Box by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, in order to be counted.
All ballots must go through the Post Office Box. No hand carried ballots will be accepted. Mail your ballot in early so your VOTE counts.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
This week, Local 1014 attended the Public Safety Peer Support Association's (PSPSA) 3rdAnnual “Wellness on the Front Line” Conference. Our Local 1014 team participated in seminars on topics including: post-traumatic stress disorder, peer support responses to critical incidents, facing adversity, resilience, peer support program development, responses to the Montecito Mudslides, 2017 Las Vegas 91 Harvest Music Festival Shooting, and other important topics.
 
Our own LA County Fire Peer Support Team Leader Scott Ross, who also serves as a Director on the Executive Board of PSPSA, presented to the conference on his experience in crisis situations, training the next generation of peers, and expanding peer programs in fire departments throughout the nation.
In addition to Scott Ross, Peer Leads Lauren Dale, Josh Fehring, Jon Ladner, Pete Martinez, and Randy Walton attended to learn how to better help our members and members nationally. The LACoFD Peer Team was dispatched from the conference to a near miss shooting directed at Firefighters in Oregon and will be working with our Brothers and Sisters there this week.
As Chair of the State Task Force on Behavioral Health, I attended along with CPF President Brian Rice, Local 1014 Executive Board Members Lew Currier, Domonic Finks and Kurt Kobler, and our Cal-JAC partners to court culturally competent fire-centric clinicians and to further expand the PEER resources and education.
Local 1014 is dedicated not only to continuing to be a leader in behavioral health, but also to continuing to learn all we can to help support our members and get them the care they need to stay healthy.
October 1-31 is the LA County Open Enrollment period for 2019 benefits. Local 1014 would like to remind you to review you benefits and encourage you to look at The Local 1014 Health Plan as an option for your family. The Local 1014 Health Plan is among the most comprehensive plans available to Firefighters anywhere in the nation and is tailored to meet our Firefighters’ needs. This year, benefits will be expanded to include enhanced dental, hearing, fertility, and medical weight loss benefits just to name a few. Higher allowances, increased coverage, new benefits and greater options are just a few of the highlights of The Local 1014 Health Plan in 2019.
The Local 1014 Health Plan is the only health plan offered in the County that you can take with you into retirement and maintain FOR LIFE. It has never been more important for our members to review your healthcare options and ensure that you have the best coverage available for you and your family.
Enroll now at www.mylacountybenefits.com. For more information about The Local 1014 Health Plan, please call member services at 800-660-1014 or email medicalplan@local1014.org.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014
Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel
|
|
|
FRIDAY UPDATE
Brothers & Sisters,
This week, the nation celebrated World Mental Health Day. Observed on October 10th each year, World Mental Health Day helps raise awareness for mental health issues and encourages organizations to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
Last year, more Firefighters died from suicide than from on-duty events. National surveys suggest nearly one in three Firefighters has considered suicide. In many cases, post-traumatic stress injury is the cause, and all too often, our brothers and sisters suffer in silence. As Firefighters and First Responders, we are conditioned to be tough and strong—we are conditioned to be superheroes for our community. However, just like physical health, behavioral health is something that must be conditioned and maintained. Local 1014 would like to remind our members to take a moment to check in with your brothers and sisters and to utilize the resources in your stations via the Local 1014 Mental Health Resources poster. Don’t let this issue live in the shadows.
Your Local 1014 Executive Board is committed to continuing this fight to break the silence, and is leading this fight at the local and state levels. To that end, Local 1014 will be participating in the Public Safety Peer Support Association's 3rdAnnual “Wellness on the Front Line” Conference. Our Local 1014 team will be participating in seminars on topics including: post-traumatic stress disorder, peer support responses to critical incidents, facing adversity, resilience, peer support program development, responses to the Montecito Mudslides, 2017 Las Vegas 91 Harvest Music Festival Shooting, and other important topics. We are dedicated to learning all we can to help support our members and get them the care they need to stay healthy.
Be safe out there and take care of each other.
In Solidarity,
President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
