Being exposed to the risk of cancer, infertility, headaches, sleep disorders, reduced memory function, and anxiety for the rest of your career - sound acceptable to you?

Our radio message running on KNX 1070 this week

Some email readers may not recognize this video player.  If you cannot see the video click here --> Brain Damage v4 from local1014 on Vimeo

These are the risks of new microwave radiation-producing cell towers that LA-RICS’ contractors are installing at our fire stations. (Click here for a list of stations where the towers are scheduled to be installed).

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! We need you at the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday – because after that, it will be too late.

Firefighters will get no better emergency communications from this project – you  get the impacts but none of the benefits. You'll be relying on your LMR for decades while you're being saturated with toxic radio frequency radiation from cell towers.

Click here to find out what we’re doing to STOP this health threat! You and your family don’t want to live with those consequences!

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Share this news on any social media networks you use (just click the buttons below - we’ve pre-filled-out the posts):

What’s this all about?
LA-RICS is spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to install hundreds of new microwave radiation-producing cell towers throughout the County, including at County-owned and leased fire stations and lifeguard facilities. LA-RICS and its contractors were required to perform an RF emission safety study for each site in advance of the planning and permitting process. This has not happened.

In fact, LA-RICS is jamming up towers WITHOUT:

• Getting community input;
• Informing people about health impacts on fire fighters and the families who live near the towers;
• Securing approval of City Councils; or
• Even following LA County’s own rules for new cell towers!

Installation of these toxic towers has already begun and we are demanding that construction stop immediately. The Board of Supervisors, is feeling the heat and has introduced a motion to lock in this threat forever.

We’re not talking about driving down the freeway past a cell tower that looks like a fake tree. We’re talking about having antennas practically on top of our heads day in and day out, irradiating us with radiofrequency (RF) radiation every second we’re in the stations.

Let’s be clear. These antennas may not cook us from the inside out (although they do emit the same kind of radiation as a microwave oven), but research shows that exposure to RF radiation at relentless doses is very dangerous and possibly deadly.

Impaired immune function. DNA breakage. Skyrocketing stress hormones. The list of health threats is startlingly long. (You can read it here.)

What are we doing about it?
Local 1014 has been fighting back. So far, we have been successful at persuading city councils to pass resolutions opposing the plan (Rolling Hills, El Monte, Inglewood, and Lawndale). We have met with County Supervisors to personally express our opposition, and some are leaning in favor of firefighter health. We have organized turnout at community discussions. And we have exposed the fact that the County has passed off this project to another agency (LA-RICS) to completely dodge requirements to study the health effects of these towers on firefighters and paramedics - on US.

But this progress will have been completely wasted if we do not show up in force and make our voices heard this Tuesday.

Please forward this email to as many contacts as possible.

Any questions contact Health & Safety Director Lew Currier at (310) 925-2588 or by email at lcurrier@local1014.org.

Thank you for getting involved.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

PROTECT YOUR JOB!

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick"), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century.....CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Today, Tuesday March 17th, The Irish and virtually every other person in the land will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  As you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day take a moment to prepare and protect lives and your job.  If you are going to drink alcohol, remember line up a Designated Driver, Get a Cab, or Get a Room.  Don’t put your life or your job in jeopardy…be smart on the Green Day of the Year.

CELL TOWERS

As many of you know we have been fighting for your safety since August 2014 in regards to the cell towers being put up at fire stations around LA County. At this point residents in many cities are beginning to see the towers go up and they are, to say the least, upset. They have blocked construction people from entering FS property, they have gone to their city leaders and demanded action to stop this, they have threatened filing of law suits and today at the Board of Supervisors race 1014 is in the audience to see residents speak out to the Board of Supervisors to express their displeasure with the towers.

Again if you have not done so already log on to the 1014 site and look under member resources for cell tower information. There you will find all kinds of documentation on what this is all about and why we are working to protect you and the resident around the Fire Stations.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

LOCAL 1014 Negotiations team had our first meeting to begin negotiations for 601/602 contracts with the County on Friday March 13th. We asked for information and discussed the plan for negotiations. At this point we are very encouraged. Again to keep updated on negotiations go to the 1014 website and under member resources click on the link to contract negotiations update. We will update the page every Friday or if something significant happens.

On behalf of the LOCAL 1014 Executive Board – BE SAFE AND STAY INFORMED.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

ANTHEM CYBER ATTACK UPDATE

Local 1014 Health Plan continues to monitor developments surrounding the ANTHEM CYBER ATTACK, including daily communications with Anthem.

Anthem has mounted a multi-prong response to the cyber attack to protect your personal information.  They have taken measures to secure all of its data warehouses and protect member’s information by offering identity and credit protection services.

As a precaution, you may want to consider enrolling in the FREE identity theft and credit monitoring services.  The free services provided by Anthem include two years of:

Identity Theft Repair Assistance: Should a member experience fraud, an investigator will do the work to recover financial losses, restore the member’s credit, and ensure the member’s identity is returned to its proper condition. This assistance will cover any fraud that has occurred since the cyber attack first began.

Credit Monitoring:  Credit monitoring alerts consumers when banks and creditors use their identity to open new credit accounts.  Credit monitoring services require a member to actively enroll because the member must provide their personal information and consent to have their credit monitored.

There are additional services being offered by Anthem. The attached document published by Anthem more fully describes these services.  Visit AnthemFacts.com or call (877) 263-7995 for details.

Don't be Phished

Because of the cyber attack, Local 1014 members should beware of email campaigns designed to steal your personal information (known as “phishing”).  Phishing is designed to appear as if emails are from Anthem.  The emails include a “click here” link for credit monitoring. These emails are NOT from Anthem.

• DO NOT click on any links in email.
• DO NOT reply to the email or reach out to the senders in any way.
• DO NOT supply any information on the website that may open, if you have clicked on a link in email.
• DO NOT open any attachments that arrive with email.

For more guidance on recognizing scam email, please visit the FTC website: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0003-phishing.

Anthem will begin to mail letters to all impacted current and former members in the coming weeks. Those letters will provide information on free identity repair services and credit monitoring. However, members can access these services now — they do not have to wait until they receive notification from Anthem.  Visit their AnthemFacts.com or call 1-877-263-7995 for details.

Click here for FAQ's.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

TIME TO LEAD!

There are a great many things that we have worked with the Department on throughout the years and we recognize that.  Whenever we can we will collaborate and or negotiate to get good results and we are often seeking the same target for our profession.  However there are times when we will be adverse to the Department’s actions and be in disagreement with the Department and the Fire Chief’s actions and we will call them in to question. This is one of those times.

Recently the Chief sent out EA-90 attempting to address the “County of Los Angeles Auditor Controller’s Report” and the mess that has accompanied this item in the media.  These words not only came up woefully short, but were disrespectful to the situation and to the membership who work so hard to do more with less, and serve valiantly.  We are not some data point that is simply tracked as a “positive outcome”, we are in the business of fixing problems during times of extreme duress, chaos, and in fact in the business of saving lives; a career of character, not just a job.

The Membership of Local 1014, representing the Fire Fighters, Paramedics and Fire Personnel  along with the Chief Officers of the AOC and the many Union and Non-Represented workers, share a rich tradition and history of “Exemplary Service”.  We serve DESPITE anchors of mediocrity that occasionally challenge us from the minority.  It will not be a difficult time for us because we are resilient and strong and can push through the heaviest of times to get it done.  It will however, be difficult for the Fire Chief and upper staff if they continue to feed into the mess and effectively fail to deal with the issues in an honest and forthright way as leaders of this Department.

It is “TIME TO LEAD” - “ONE BADGE, ONE BEAR, ONE SHARE”.  We all own this job as single share owners and we have a right to expect that each share lifts its weight, from Recruit to Fire Chief.  The members of Local 1014 along with the rest of the LA County Fire Department workforce make it happen every day, all day.  It is time for the Fire Chief to rise up and take responsibility for that which is broken and that, which is not.  As well as provide a way to address it and defend our Department and those who work hard to make it all happen despite the failures of a few mainly in his staff.

While we can take stock in so many things that are going right, there are clearly so many items that are beginning to stack up that are going wrong.  I will not name them all here, but rather highlight two and call to the Fire Chief’s attention, the buck stops with him on these items.

The first is all of the items that have brought our great Department into the limelight of the press recently and Chief it is time to take responsibility and work with Labor to ensure a fair and equitable testing system for entry level and promotional tests similar to the CPAT administered through the CFF-JAC. I will be in contact with the Fire Chief on this subject and I expect he will support an entry level examination process and a promotional exam process that ensures a fair and unbiased exam process that seeks the best quality candidates regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, familial relationships or any other criteria.  Support for a system where simply, “There shall be no unfair advantage to anyone, but no unfair disadvantage to anyone”.

STOP THE CELL ANTENNAS – PROTECT OUR SAFETY

The second item involves the Firefighters and other employees of this Department that the Fire Chief is putting in harm’s way and endangering their lives as well as the lives of the very citizens he is sworn to protect.  Are his words just words or will he back them up with actions?  The LA RICS project that he has been involved with and on the Board since its inception is bordering on complete failure.  The short story on this is he has backed 20 year old FCC Health and Safety Standards and questionable technology that will put the firefighters and personnel and communities we serve in an extreme health risk situation with regard to RF Emissions.  We will be providing him with additional Health and Safety information that the Local has had to obtain in order properly assess the RF Emissions that will hit our personnel and citizens to “Prove” to the Chief and the BOS, the Health and Safety Risks that should have been readily apparent from the initial information he had, or simply failed to review.  He has stated in the Department “Strategic Plan” that the number one goal is the “HEALTH AND SAFETY” of the membership.  Well, it is time for him to put his money where his mouth is and stand up for what is right and put a STOP to the illegal and very harmful construction of the Cell Antennas going into our Stations and our Communities.

We have the support of the Citizens, the Elected Officials, and the Firefighters he is sworn to serve and protect… we are calling for your support on this issue to protect not only firefighters and paramedics and the workforce, but the women and children we are sworn to serve.  Do not put money or politics before the safety of the human beings you have a responsibility to protect.  This will not go away, and as you know we are in the heat of battle on the issue and things are starting to crumble around you.  Take bold and decisive action now to put an end to the madness that even a 5th grader off the street could make a decision on to “JUST SAY NO!” 

This is just the beginning of the “TIME TO LEAD” series of communications as we move into a very trying time with regard to the future of our Department.  We stand committed to work with the Department when and where we can to reach common goals and objectives, but we also stand committed to call into question and to call into accountability his actions and the Department actions to protect our Department as well as our Members. “TIME TO LEAD”… “ONE BADGE – ONE BEAR – ONE SHARE”. 

I have directly communicated with the Fire Chief that we believe we are at a point of shattered confidence bordering on no confidence in the handling of these issues and there are more issues that feed into this and the next 3 to 6 months will be critical for us all in where we go and what our future holds, including his.  We will expect top performance from our leader…end of story.  

Dave Gillotte – President Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

IMPORTANT!

PLEASE POST/SHARE

If you receive a notice or communication from the Auditor-Controller’s Office (or anyone else for that matter) to submit to an interrogation or interview, either as a subject or witness, CALL THE UNION HALL and DEMAND YOUR RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION.

Pat Dolan will be the Director handling the coordination of representation on the interviews and he can be reached at pdolan@local1014.org or by cell at (951) 733-9871; or Andy Doyle at andydoyle@local1014.org , cell (562) 307-7045 or if you can’t get a hold of either of them call the Union Hall at (310) 639-1014.

The Auditor-Controller has been badgering and trying to intimidate members into meeting without representation and at dates and times that our members cannot meet. All members have rights of representation and they are in place to ensure a fair process to interview folks to best ascertain facts and truth and not conduct a witch hunt or fact twisting exercise.

Your FBOR rights apply and don’t be intimidated by the Auditor Controllers Office. Call now to protect your rights. We will also be working with the AOC to ensure all chief officer FBOR rights are protected in this matter that clearly seeks to harm firefighters more than deal with any allegations of improprieties. We will be sending out a comprehensive information piece on all of the details regarding this matter shortly and we are very adverse to the findings and the Fire Chief’s response to the matter. We wanted to first get the message out to all members to stand up and protect your rights and please act to do so now. Any questions please call the Union.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH UPDATE

Don't forget the General Membership Meeting Tuesday February 10th at 10:00 am at your union hall.

Please come join us at 10 am at the Alfred K. Whitehead Labor Center, our Union Hall this upcoming Tuesday to plug in and get updated on a number of important issues and items we are dealing with at the Local that affect our job. The Executive Board has been engaged in numerous battles and issues right from day one, and there will be no slowing from the looks of it. If we only had more hours in the day, and more days in the month! We are still setting our feet with duties and responsibilities and goals and priorities save and except the painfully obvious like contract negotiations and the cell phone antenna fight and more to come on that in the next couple of weeks as we finalize those items. You can expect assigned Executive Board Members for your Geographic Regions and Category Specific work also. We are moving back to revitalizing the Newsletter and Regional Union Meetings with Board Members assigned to handle logistics of those meetings to bring the meetings to you again at least 3-4 times a year. These regional meetings proved to be extremely helpful to all in connecting the Union hall to the stations by regions. So, get on down to the Alfred K. Whitehead Labor Center, Our Union Hall at 10 am Tuesday and have a little coffee and donuts and get the week started right by getting informed and be a part of the discussion affecting our job. Here a few items to be discussed and a quick update on them to start:

NEGOTIATIONS

All public safety contracts have expired and we are now on a month to month extension of existing terms and conditions until such time as we negotiate a successor agreement. We have been meeting with the Public Safety Unions and also with the County to move to set the table so we can begin formal negotiations. Following the BOS Elections and a CEO Changing of the Guard, things have been a little slower to get into gear, but movement to meet is beginning to heat up and set. Stay tuned to the website and web-blasts for more information as we move forward. Sign up to receive our Email broadcasts at www.local1014.org and also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

We have added a page to our member resources section on our web site to keep you updated and give you more information. We will update every Friday with any information. Log in and Click here.

CELL TOWERS

Your Local 1014 Executive Board has been in intense meetings this week with the CEO, Board of Supervisors and LA RICS regarding the cell towers being constructed at our fire stations. We have been in opposition to the cell towers on our work sites since we found out they were coming in August of 2014. Our major concerns are the health and safety of our members, future collocation of commercial cell antennas on the towers, the methods of modeling used to determine Radio Frequency Radiation (RF) exposure and the benchmarks that are being used to determine exposure safety levels.

Upon further investigation of the project Local 1014 discovered that LA RICS has been moving forward with reckless abandon. They have not been taking the proper steps to allow for the health and safety of our members. There are also numerous contract violations occurring because of the rate in which they are being allowed to proceed with the project. One major violation was the fact that they had not completed an RF Emissions report for each site prior to construction beginning. They only had one sample RF Emissions safety report and were using it to suffice for all stations.   

Local 1014 have requested that all construction at our fire department sites cease until all the stipulations in the contracts between LA RICS/LA County and Motorola/LA RICS are met and we have an RF Compliance modeling system that we trust to be accurate with RF exposure level bench marks agreed upon.  Be advised they may not stop construction as we have seen, and don’t interfere with them, but rather keep us informed on the work progress so we can accurately know what is actually occurring vs. the schedule.

We are still in meetings on this issue and hope to reach a favorable outcome with the County. We will be notifying you with our results here soon. Please pay attention to our web site, your personal e-mail and the bulletins to the stations from Local 1014. The time for us to take it to the streets and educate the citizens on this issue is rapidly approaching and we will need your help!

We have added a page to our member resources section on our web site to keep you updated and give you more information. Log in and Click here

Together we will protect our health and safety!

PARAMEDIC PRECEPTOR CLASS

Over the course of three days, February 3, 4, and 5th, Local 1014 and the EMS section conducted a series of classes titled "Paramedic Preceptor Training". This training came to fruition through many hours of meetings between the EMS Section, Local 1014, and many of our own members who are currently detailed to a 40 hour work week in the EMS Section.

The course was designed to train our Paramedic Preceptors and their new trainee’s in "stages". While this is not a necessarily new concept, it was morphed into what it is today by L.A. County Fire personnel using the skillset they were taught and combining that with new training methods. During the last three days, more than 90 L.A. County Fire Paramedics received the training.

The thought behind the training was to give the field preceptors the tools they need to make the trainees experience as successful as possible. The "stages" model defines the goals that the trainee needs to meet in order to proceed further. It also allows for the preceptors to get the EMS Section involved earlier if the trainee is failing to meet his or her goals. This program, hopefully, will provide more consistency as it relates to the Preceptor/Trainee roles.

Local 1014 is very proud to have hosted the classes, and looks to host more training events in the future.

CPAT FIREVISION

Local 1014 CPAT day 2014

As you may know we try to work with our management whenever possible. Most times we have a great working relationship with management, at times we do not agree on some things that may seem simple, but the end result is we work together every day to try and make things better for our membership and our department.

Back on December 13th, 2014, 1014 promoted and sponsored a 1014 CPAT day. Over 140 of our members, their children, FSA's and explorers had the opportunity to take the CPAT exam prior to the announcement of the LA County Fire Department Fire Fighter Trainee exam. During the "1014 CPAT day" Chief Osby, Chief Lawrence and members of the LAC HR Department came to the event and watched, learned and even participated in the event to get a good understanding of how the process works and what exciting things are on the horizon as an option for future testing.

All of this through the CPF and the FCTC, our state organization under the IAFF.

1014 CPAT video

ANTHEM CYBER ATTACK

Many of you are aware of the cyber attack that has breached Anthem's computer systems. It has been widely publicized in newspapers, TV and radio news programs and web news venues. Some of you may have received an Email from Anthem describing the cyber attack and what personal information may have been compromised.

Although the Local 1014 Health Plan processes LA County Fire Fighter claims, we contract with Anthem Blue Cross for the Prudent Buyer Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). As such, much of our claim data is shared with Anthem.

Local 1014 Health Plan is in contact with Anthem to determine what impact the cyber attack has had on our members. Anthem indicates that personal information such as names, birthdays, medical IDs/social security numbers, street addresses, Email addresses and employment information, including income data may have been compromised. At this time Anthem says there is no evidence that credit card or medical information (such as claims, test results or diagnostic codes) were compromised.

In addition, Local 1014 does not provide some of this information to Anthem.... specifically credit card and income and employment data.

Anthem will individually notify any Local 1014 member whose information has been accessed. They will provide credit monitoring and identity protection services free of charge to those who have been affected.

Anthem has created a dedicated website - AnthemFacts.com - where members can view FAQ's. As they learn more, the website will be updated.

Anthem has also established a dedicated toll-free number that you can call with questions related to the cyber attack. That number is: (877) 263-7995.

You may also contact Local 1014’s Member Services at: (800) 660-1014 or (310) 639-1014.

As we learn more we will update this message.

Thank you,

The Board of Trustees
The Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014 Health and Welfare Plan

February 5, 2015

We hope to see you on Thursday

Fraternally,

Your Local 1014 Executive Board

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

Click on photos for larger picture

Over the course of 3 days, February 3, 4, and 5th, Local 1014 and the EMS section conducted a series of classes titled "Paramedic Preceptor Training". This training came to fruition through many hours of meetings between the EMS Section, Local 1014, and many of our own members who are currently detailed to a 40 hour work week in the EMS Section.

The course was designed to train our Paramedic Preceptors and their new trainee’s in "stages". While this is not a necessarily new concept, it was morphed into what it is today by L.A. County Fire personnel using the skillset they were taught and combining that with new training methods. During the last three days, more than 90 L.A. County Fire Paramedics received the training.

The thought behind the training was to give the field preceptors the tools they need to make the trainees experience as successful as possible. The "stages" model defines the goals that the trainee needs to meet in order to proceed further. It also allows for the preceptors to get the EMS Section involved earlier if the trainee is failing to meet his or her goals. This program, hopefully, will provide more consistency as it relates to the Preceptor/Trainee roles.

Local 1014 is very proud to have hosted the classes, and looks to host more training events in the future.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

Click on this link to read about the Anthem cyber attack and 1014 medical.

Any questions please contact Local 1014 member services (800) 660-1014 or (310) 639-1014

Local 1014 CPAT day 2014

As you may know we try to work with our management whenever possible. Most times we have a great working relationship with management, at times we do not agree on some things that may seem simple, but the end result is we work together every day to try and make things better for our membership and our department.

Back on December 13th, 2014, 1014 promoted and sponsored a 1014 CPAT day. Over 140 of our members, their children, FSA's and explorers had the opportunity to take the CPAT exam prior to the announcement of the LA County Fire Department Fire Fighter Trainee exam. During the "1014 CPAT day" Chief Osby, Chief Lawrence and members of the LAC HR Department came to the event and watched, learned and even participated in the event to get a good understanding of how the process works and what exciting things are on the horizon as an option for future testing.

All of this through the CPF and the FCTC, our state organization under the IAFF.

To all those that are preparing for the Firefighter Trainee Exam, good luck.

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details

"ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL"?

Sunday is the day.  The entire professional football season comes down to this one game.  This year in Super Bowl XLIX (49) two teams who are no strangers to the Super Bowl will face off for the right to be crowned World Champions.  The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will begin their battle at 1530. Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014 "Brothers and Sisters" will be getting ready to BBQ, Tailgate, and cheer for their favorite teams in the sporting war of wars.  The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.  The history of the game brings back great memories for most.

Your Local 1014 Executive Board would like to take a moment to remind our members to take time to prepare before you celebrate if you are going to drink or serve alcohol.  Have a plan.  Take caution in your decisions this weekend.

Have a great weekend and be safe and enjoy a great American Tradition as the Seahawks and Patriots battle to see who will be the World Champions.

Enjoy the game, Katy Perry, the Halftime Show, the camaraderie, the commercials or whatever it is you like about the game but please remember to be responsible.

Your Local 1014 Executive Board

Check iafflocal1014.org or local1014.org for details