Help Vallejo Firefighters and Protect Collective Bargaining
Updated On: Feb 47, 2009
Vallejo Bankruptcy
TO:
ALL LOCAL 1014 MEMBERS
FROM:
LOCAL 1014
SUBJECT:
VALLEJO BANKRUPTCY APPEAL
* * * WE NEED YOUR HELP * * *
LOCAL 1014 MEMBERS, the time has come
to prevent the next attack on our staffing, wages, and benefits before it
reaches Los Angeles County.The
City of Vallejo recently declared bankruptcy to avoid fulfilling
their public safety obligations.Vallejo
is already dangerously understaffed and has passed their financial mismanagement
onto the backs of their firefighters:
8.2% wage cuts that
before the Council declared bankruptcy has grown to a 13% pay cut.
Having closed two
fire stations and eliminated more than 40 firefighters, response times
have dramatically increased.
Vallejo did their own study
and it confirmed that it currently has 20% fewer firefighters than that recommended
under minimum national safety standards.
Their attempt at cutting employee and critical
retiree benefits, without changing the city's other obligations and the way
it does business, is unfair and especially harmful to retirees who earned
those benefits over decades of service.
Prior
to the bankruptcy filing, Vallejo's employee unions offered to help the city
avert bankruptcy by proposing $10 million in salary cuts - an offer the city
rejected. Vallejo admitted in legal filings that the employees' offer would
have solved the situation.
Vallejo
Firefighters Local 1186 have decided to appeal the bankruptcy and need our
help.To
show support for our brother firefighters, andopposition to what could become a new trend in municipal financial management,
we are asking each and every one of you to attend the following court hearing:
WHEN:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH @ 10:45
WHERE:125
GRAND AVENUE, PASADENA (COURTROOM#1)
As always, we thank you for your hard
work and dedication in making Local 1014 a stronger Union.