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, 

As we informed you last week, Local 1014 was in Sacramento lobbying for several critical pieces of legislation with our state union, California Professional Firefighters (CPF). We are pleased to report that we had a successful year passing important pro-Firefighter legislation items including protecting the families of our fallen Firefighters, adding more protections for workers’ compensation, and banning the sale of products containing toxic-flame retardant chemicals that can have long-term effects on our Firefighters. We would like to thank CPF President Brian Rice and his team for a successful legislative year at the state level. 

See list below of the CPF-backed measures signed into law this year. These bills take effect January 1, 2019 unless otherwise noted:

• SB 1086 (Atkins, D-San Diego) – Ensures that survivors of fallen public safety officers, including fallen firefighters, are not “timed out” from filing for workers’ compensation death benefits in cases where the officer’s death is the result of occupational cancer, tuberculosis, or a blood-borne infectious disease.
• AB 2334 (Thurmond, D-Richmond) — Provides that workplace recordkeeping violations continue until corrected or discovered, and requires the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to form an advisory committee if a federal government’s rule for employer electronic reporting of injuries and illnesses is eliminated or substantially diminished. The new law also enhances public access to workers’ compensation data as it relates to public self-insured employers.
• AB 2380 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Napa) – Enacts strict standards and regulations for privately contracted fire-prevention crews, to keep them from complicating disaster response when operating during an active fire incident.
• AB 2554 (Bonta, D-Alameda) – Ensures survivors of California federal firefighters who die in the line of duty can attend UC, CSU and California community colleges tuition free.
• AB 2696 (Rodriguez, D-Pomona) – Clarifies the calculation of penalties paid by CalPERS-contracting employers, which are owed to CalPERS when an employer violates the 960-hour per fiscal year limit on an employee’s out-of-class appointment.
• AB 2961 (O’Donnell, D-Long Beach) – Requires local emergency medical services agencies (LEMSAs) to report ambulance patient offload time (APOT) data to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). EMSA must report the data twice a year to state’s Emergency Medical Services commission and submit a report to the legislature.
• AB 2990 (Low, D-Campbell) – Requires California public colleges to make information about fallen firefighter survivor higher education benefits easily accessible on their websites.
• AB 2998 (Bloom, D-Santa Monica) – Bans the sale of mattresses, kids’ products and upholstered and reupholstered furniture that contain toxic-flame retardant chemicals.

While we were successful in many of our efforts, two of our important bills were vetoed by the Governor. Although this is a setback for our efforts in peer support and community paramedicine, we will not rest until we have completed this mission. Please see links to bills below along with links to the Governor’s veto message for each bill. 

• AB 1116 (Tim Grayson, D-Concord) — Would have established a confidential Peer Support and Crisis Referral Services pilot program for California’s firefighters, correctional officers and parole officers seeking support for psychological and emotional stressors associated to their profession. See Governor Brown’s veto message here.
• AB 3115 (Mike Gipson, D-Carson) — Would have authorized programs to provide for specified community paramedic or triage to alternate destination paramedic services. See Governor Brown’s veto message here.

As Chair of the California Fire Service Task Force on Behavioral Health, and on behalf of Local 1014, we are deeply disappointed in the Governor’s veto of AB 1116. I would like to thank CPF President Brian Rice, all the committee members and Assemblymember Greyson for their hard work and commitment to this much needed legislation. We will rewrite this bill and get back after it with a new legislative session and a new governor and we will see success. 

On AB 3115, the Los Angeles County Fire Department will be working towards a pilot program under the existing Governors’ authority to begin transporting patients to alcohol, drug treatment and behavioral health centers instead of emergency rooms. We will update you as we work with the Fire Chief and the County Board of Supervisors to get this done.  We would like to thank LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn for her work on AB 3115 and for her efforts to give our First Responders the tools they need to protect our communities. 

Next year we will have a new governor and new opportunities to increase protections for our Firefighters and improve service to our communities. As you know we have joined 30,000 other Firefighters as part of the CPF in endorsing Gavin Newson for Governor. We know his record on Firefighter issues is strong and we believe he will be the candidate to get these important items done for us next year. We have a plan and we are confident that we will be able to get these items done. This is yet another reminder of why political action is one of the most important things we do as a Union and as Firefighters. We need to ensure our voices are heard loud and clear by our elected officials so we can ensure our members get the protections they need. 

Finally, as many of you know, every year the County of Los Angeles meets its annual cap for LA County Choices employees enrolled in a 2018 Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA). As a result, the monthly County contribution for your DCSA in October 2018 will be approximately 20% of the full contribution, and it will stop completely starting in November 2018 and through the remainder of the calendar year. This benefit will reset in January 2019. 

If you currently have a DCSA, this will not affect your take-home pay, and your own monthly contribution to your DCSA will remain the same unless you elect to increase it. Any reimbursements to you for dependent care expenses during 2018 will be limited to the amount of your own contributions during 2018, plus the County contributions through October 2018. 

For more information or to increase your contribution to you DCSA, please see attached notification.  

 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, Local 1014 has been in Sacramento fighting for our legislative priorities at the State and encouraging the Governor to sign legislation that will help our members including legislation to protect the confidentiality of our peer support program and establish community paramedicine programs. Political action is an essential part of advocating for our members and ensuring that we have the protections our members need as we protect Los Angeles County communities. 

Assembly Bill 3115, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gipson, establishes the Community Paramedicine or Triage to Alternate Destination Act of 2018. This bill would allow our members to draw on local resources and their own experience to guide patients to the help and services that will do them the most good, including sobering centers and mental health facilities. 

Members of the Local 1014 Executive Board have been working closely with LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn and Governor Jerry Brown to ensure that AB3115 gives our First Responders the tools they need to effectively help all LA County communities. Make your voice heard, sign petition here: https://bit.ly/2MTrjIA.

Additionally, earlier this week, members of the Local 1014 Executive Board continued contract negotiations and fringe benefit negotiations with Los Angeles County. While we made some significant progress this week, we still have a lot to do to get the best deal possible for our members and their families. 

Finally, this Saturday, September 29th, the California Fire Foundation will host the 16th Annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony in Sacramento's Capitol Park. This year's ceremony will honor the memory of 37 firefighters, adding their names to the more than 1,300 currently etched into the California Firefighters Memorial. Local 1014 has 97 members whose names have been engraved on the wall. They are forever etched in our memories for their sacrifice and for their commitment to our mission and our communities. We shall never forget.

California Professional Firefighters and the California Fire Chiefs Association are urging all on-duty personnel who are unable to attend the Memorial Ceremony in person to Stand Down for Safety from 11:30am to 1:00pm to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by watching the Memorial live online.

CLICK HERE TO LIVE STREAMING FOR THE MEMORIAL.

For more information and updates regarding the 2018 California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, visit http://cafirefoundation.org/memorial. 

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 hard at work grinding out a successor contract for our members. This fight has been long and hard. While we continue to make slow progress, contractual negotiations with the County of Los Angeles, the largest county in the nation, are never easy or straightforward. We are negotiating our contract with a new Chief Executive Officer and fighting for every dollar. We will not take less than we deserve and we will not leave money on the table. 

Your Executive Board will continue to fight to ensure that as the bargaining process continues our elected officials and County representatives know that the health and welfare of our members needs be their number one priority. They need to step up and provide the resources we need to take care of our members, including the formation of a robust Behavioral Health Program, and the wages, benefits and working conditions we need to stay healthy and safe. 

In addition to and separate from the negotiations for our contract, members of your Local 1014 Executive Board have been hard at work negotiating with the County as part of the County Coalition of Unions (CCU) for our fringe benefits. 

CCU collectively represents more than 30,000 men and women employed by the County of Los Angeles and nearly one dozen LA County unions.  Fringe benefits are negotiated separately from salaries and include matters such as health insurance, sick pay, vacation pay, retirement, and many other matters that impact all County employees and their families. These negotiations have been going on simultaneously to our contract negotiations. Your Executive Board is working hard to increase these benefits for our members and all members of LA County unions. We will continue to update you on the progress of these negotiations and our ongoing contract negotiations as they unfold. 

Finally, we have all seen the devastating impacts from Hurricane Florence throughout the news cycle this week which has brought torrential rain, devastating winds and widespread flooding. Our own LACoFD California Task Force 2 Urban Search and Swiftwater Rescue Team has been deployed to assist in the recovery efforts. 

While thousands of Firefighters’ homes are in the direct path of the hurricane in Carolinas, they continue working around the clock, rescuing their communities, knowing that their own homes are likely under water. When they return to their homes, these Firefighters and their families will need our help to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. 

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and President Harold Schaitberger have been on the ground providing direct support to Firefighters in the disaster zone. Please help our Brothers and Sisters in the Carolinas who have lost their homes by donating to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund at my.iaff.org/disaster. One team, one fight. 

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

UPCOMING ELECTION

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

DATE:                         TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

TIME:                          10:00 A.M.

LOCATION:                LOCAL 1014 UNION HALL

                                    3460 FLETCHER AVENUE

                                    EL MONTE, CA 91731

                                    OFFICE: (310) 639-1014

                                    FAX: (310) 639-5314

SPECIAL ITEM  OF BUSINESS:

NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF LOCAL 1014

ELECTION SCHEDULE – 2018

October  9, 2018                Nominations

October 16, 2018               Acceptance Closes

October 19, 2018               Resumes Submitted

November  2, 2018            Ballots Mailed

November 20, 2018           Ballots Counted

January 8, 2019                 Installation of Executive Board

Local 1014 is in the process of preparing for our 2018 Executive Board Elections. If you had a change of address in the last 6 months and have not notified the Union, you need to call, fax or email your new address immediately.

E-MAIL :  mail@local1014.org

Visit our Web Page at:  www.local1014.org

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, 

First, I want to thank all our members who showed up at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) on Tuesday, September 11th to show solidarity and resolve for making lasting changes to the Los Angeles County Fire Department regarding the behavioral health of our members. On Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Janice Hahn's joint motion to increase behavioral health services to LA County first responders was unanimously passed by the Board of Supervisors. While this is a victory, the fight isn’t over yet. Click here to view clip from LABOS meeting. We need to remain vigilant and actively continue this discussion for the sake of our brothers and sisters and our families. 

Hopefully, this week you have also been participating in the department-wide Behavioral Health Safety Stand Down and engaging in kitchen table sessions with behavioral health and suicide awareness as the focus. Please continue to utilize the resources in your stations via the Local 1014 Mental Health Resources poster. 

A special thank you to everyone who testified and shared their stories whether it was at the Board of Supervisors meeting, at the stations or with your peers. There is no doubt that your courage to tell your story helped our brothers and sisters and helped erase the stigma. Thank you. 

We made a difference this week! We brought light to the growing problem of suicide, post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries in the Fire Service. Your Executive Board has never been prouder to represent our members. #UnionStrong!! 

Your Local 1014 Executive Board will continue to fight to ensure that as the bargaining process continues our elected officials and County representatives know that the health and welfare of our members needs be their number one priority. They need to step up and provide the resources we need to take care of our members, including the formation of a robust Behavioral Health Program. 

Finally, tomorrow, the 32nd IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial service will take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At this year’s memorial service, the IAFF will add 271 fallen fire fighters from the United States and Canada to the Wall of Honor. The Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, located in the shadow of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, honors the sacrifice made by IAFF members who have given their lives in the line of duty.

The 2018 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial service will be broadcast live (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbtHVN-ZKqs) via streaming video on Saturday, September 15 beginning at 11:00 a.m. (Mountain Time). Please take a moment tomorrow to remember the sacrifice of our fallen brothers and sisters. We shall never forget. 
 

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,

As many of you may know, September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. There is no better time to shine a light on the growing problem of suicide and post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries in the Fire Service. Over the next week, Local 1014 will be engaged in several outreach activities to bring awareness and affect real lasting change within the Department on this critically important issue.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, the Board of Supervisors will be discussing post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries in the Fire Service and for First Responders countywide. We need to show them that these are not just numbers on a page, they are real people with real families taking risks and bearing the burden of protecting their constituents. 

Local 1014 Members along with Los Angeles County Lifeguards Association (LACoLA) will be converging upon the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to demonstrate our resolve and make our voices heard to our elected officials. We need our elected officials to know that the health and welfare of our members should be their number one priority. They need to step up and provide the resources we need to take care of our members, including the formation of a robust Behavioral Health Program.

Directly following our rally and demonstration, on September 12 through September 14, the Los Angeles County Fire Department in partnership with Local 1014 will be participating in a department-wide Behavioral Health Safety Stand Down. This stand down will include a curriculum designed by mental health professionals, our LA County peer support teams, Union representatives, and management. Drills and activities will be canceled for all three shifts and replaced by kitchen table sessions with a behavioral health and suicide awareness program.

This month, perhaps more than most, we have been reminded that our Firefighters and Fire Service Personnel are asked to face horrors few can imagine, from mass casualty events, to the intimate pain of a child dying in their arms. It can take its toll on even the strongest individuals. Sometimes, the stress boils over.

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.

Local 1014 has been a leader in Behavioral Health statewide with Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte serving as Chair of the statewide Behavioral Health Task Force. Your Local 1014 Executive Board is committed to continuing this fight to break the silence, and break the stigma.

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

CALL TO ARMS—LOCAL 1014 NEEDS YOU!

SAVE THE DATE: SOLIDARITY RALLY AND DEMONSTRATION AT LA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, Local 1014 Members along with Los Angeles County Lifeguards Association (LACoLA) will be converging upon the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to demonstrate our resolve and make our voices heard to our elected officials. Please join your brothers and sisters as we fight to have our voices heard on the important issues affecting our job.

This September 11^th, we will not only be commemorating the sacrifice of our Brothers and Sisters on that fateful day in New York, but also shining a light on ever-increasing risks we take each and every day in order to protect our communities. Whether it be the post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries from a lifetime of tough calls and service or the fatigue from recalls, increasing call volume and fires statewide, our members need to make their voices heard.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will be discussing the possibility of a study on post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries in the Fire Service. We need to show them that these are not just numbers on a page, they are real people with real families taking risks and bearing the burden of protecting their constituents.  

We need our elected officials to know that the health and welfare of our members should be their number one priority. They need to step up and provide the resources we need to take care of our members, including the formation of a robust Behavioral Health Program and other items which we have been aggressively bargaining. Without support from our elected officials and the County, we will continue to see more recalls, more post-traumatic and cumulative stress injuries. Additionally, the Fire Chief and Management will be in attendance and need to hear our collective voice.

We will not waiver in the fight for our members. Not since 2005 have Local 1014 members needed to demonstrate and make our voices heard before the Board of Supervisors. We need your help to make it clear to the members of the Board of Supervisors that labor is united and that we will not accept less than we deserve.

Please wear uniform pants, or dark slacks, and the dark blue Local 1014 Union t-shirt. If you do not already have a t-shirt, we will be providing them at the rally. 

WHEN: 

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 9:00am 

Meeting begins at 10:00 am

Arrive early for sign-in and t-shirt distribution and to allow time to go through security check point

WHERE:

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration

500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Meet on lawn in front of the Temple Street entrance

Parking is available at the following locations, Local 1014 will be reimbursing parking expenses for members:                                   

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 
555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles
Fee: $4 every 15 minutes; $19 maximum

Overflow at:

Music Center Garage - Auto Park 14

135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

Fee: $3.50 every 15 minutes; $20 maximum

Auto Park 29
313 North Figueroa, Los Angeles
Fee: $1.25 every 20 minutes; $8 maximum.

If you have any additional questions, please contact a Local 1014 Executive Board Member. 

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

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate this Labor Day with our family and friends, we are reminded of the many accomplishments of the Labor Movement and the remarkable achievements of our own International Association of Fire Fighters as we celebrate 100 years of progress through unity and strength.

Labor Day dates back to the late 19th century in the United States as trade and labor movements grew stronger. By 1894, when it became an official federal holiday, some 30 states had already been celebrating it. 

President Dave Gillotte and your Executive Board