YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD IS ASKING FOR YOU HELP!

On Monday, June 15, 2009, the Pomona City Council will vote on whether to shut down one or more engine companies in Pomona.

Local 1014 has been working hard with our elected officials to make sure this won’t happen. Please come out Monday, June 15th wearing our blue 1014 shirts to show the Council we support those who support us and that we won’t sit back and take ANY closures in an already thin battalion!!

We will be meeting at Fire Station 181’s at 5:00 P.M. and food will be provided.

Fire Station 181 590 S. Park Ave. Pomona 91766

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!

Firefighter Ambrosio Rodriguez was recently injured in auto accident and he needs our help.

See attached.

Ambrosio Rodriguez.pdf

ET-120.pdf

Friends, Family and Fire Service Unite in Honoring Dallas Jones

Dallas Jones was always there for others … even at the most difficult of times. This week, those whose lives he touched paid heartfelt tribute to a man many called “my hero.”

At an emotional memorial held in his fire service hometown of Downey this past Tuesday, CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones was remembered as a man who, in his modest but firm way, changed the face of the California fire service and the fire labor movement. Brother Jones, who served sixteen years as president of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 as well as five years as state OES Director, died May 10th after battling lung cancer. He was 64 years old.

“After working with him for over 30 years, I was as close to Dallas as I’ve been to anyone,” said CPF President Emeritus Dan Terry. “He was like a brother to me.”

Nearly 1,000 people, including hundreds of uniformed firefighters from throughout California, came to pay their respects at a ceremony held with full fire service honors. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and CPF President Lou Paulson offered tributes, as did CPF President Emeritus Terry and current Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte. Choked with emotion, IAFF General President Emeritus Alfred K. Whitehead spoke movingly of his “best friend”.

“He was a brilliant political leader and the most loyal friend anyone could ever have,” said Whitehead.

CPF President Paulson recalled his early days as CPF Health and Safety Director, watching Dallas navigate with ease a tricky regulatory hearing in Sacramento.

“When it was over, Dallas … in his own quiet way … had won two-in, two-out protection for California firefighters,” recalled Paulson

Dignitaries paying their respects included L.A. County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman, former Gov. Gray Davis, who appointed Dallas as OES Director in 1999, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, former Treasurer Phil Angelides, L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, and Tom Sawyer, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Homeland Security Director.

While Brother Jones was lauded for his professional contributions, most moving were the family tributes to a man who had found a way to balance his dedication to firefighters with a strong devotion to family. He leaves behind devoted wife Lily, sons Brian and Michael, daughter Anadallas, sister Janet Adelmund, daughters-in-law Kimberly and Angela, and four grandchildren – Kaitlyn, Tiffany, Tyler and Kayla.

“My brother and I proudly wear the uniform of Los Angeles County Fire Department as a tribute to our father,” said Brian Jones. “He was my hero.”

“He told me that he would always be there for me, no matter what,” added daughter Anadallas. “He never let me down.”

Following the memorial service, Dallas’s brothers and sisters honored his memory with a miles-long apparatus and funeral procession to the graveside ceremony in nearby Cypress. There, Brother Jones was laid to rest with the traditional Last Alarm ceremony.

REMEMBERING DALLAS JONES

Click the image below to view a photo tribute to Dallas Jones's career as a firefighter and a committed union leader.

The 2007/2008 shift calendars will be mailed out this week. Members will receive 2 Wall Calendars, 2 Pocket Calendars, 2 Helmet Logo Decals and an order form to purchase additional items. To order those additional items, mail the completed order form to Local 1014 with payment. Day Planners are also available. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery of those additional items. The calendars have also been posted to our web site under "Member Resources" for members to view and dowload.

LOCAL 1014 EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTION RESULTS

President:

David Gillotte – 1,511

1^ST Vice President:

Dave Lopez – 1,418

2^nd Vice President:

John Bishop – 1,433

Treasurer:

John Smolin – 827 (53.4%)

Greg Lombardo - 721 (46.5%)

Directors: (For 6 Positions)

Will Pryor – 1,432              Andy Doyle – 1,402

Lew Currier – 1,403           David Morse – 1,414

Paul Rusin – 1,395                Pat Dolan – 1,395

Proposals:

Shall the 1014 Union dues structure be changed from 1% of top step firefighter to the 1.25% format as described? (Requires 50% + 1 to pass)

YES - 784 (48.0%)

NO - 849 (51.9%)

Shall “X” Campos be granted 1014 Life Member status? (Requires 2/3 + 1 to pass)

YES - 1,239 (77.2%)

NO - 364 (22.7%)

Shall Don Lassig be granted 1014 Life Member status? (Requires 2/3 + 1 to pass)

YES - 1,198 (74.6%)

NO - 408 (25.4%)

Shall the 1014 Executive Board pursue with the Department a trial 48/96 work schedule? (Requires 2/3 + 1 to pass)

YES - 825 (50.9%)

NO - 795 (49.0%)

A very special thanks to our Election Committee. Awsome job -- Thanks!

A few months ago we informed the membership that Local 1014 and the Department have been working to resolve a disagreement we have with the current overtime policy.  Both sides have suggested various modifications, and we thought we were close to resolution once, but so far we've not been able to come to agreement.  When we’ve brought this issue to a resolution there may be modifications to the current policy or perhaps there will just be clarifications.  At this point no one can say for sure, because we’re still working on it.

In the meantime, we’ve been receiving calls from some members asking us where we are with the overtime cap and working 5 days in a row.  To clarify for everyone:  At present there is no change in either policy.  You may work up to 5 days in a row, and there is an overtime cap of 68 shifts per fiscal year. 

We’ll let you know when there are further developments, but as we've stated before, a change in policy on this issue will go into effect only if and when the Department officially announces it.

The 1014 Executive Board

To: All 1014 members:

For the past five months 1014 has been negotiating as a member of the 12 unions Coalition of County Unions over our collective fringe benefit package with County. The fringe contract is scheduled to end September 30, and a settlement has not yet been reached. However, the County is mailing out the annual Choices packages to Coalition members now for October selections.

When you receive your Choices package at your home, County will be asking you to select various benefit coverages that will include your life insurance, dental insurance, and your all-important health insurance. As of Wednesday, September 27, Kaiser will be raising its rates for represented (non-management) personnel by over 15% while County’s current offer to the Coalition is markedly below that. The 1014 insurance plan will be raising its rates by 6.49%.

The coalition has rejected Kaiser’s unjustified rate increase for represented personnel, and has also rejected County’s 10% contribution increase. County has responded by declaring impasse. Where this is headed no one can be certain at this time, but we want our members to be aware of this unresolved situation as they make their selections in Choices.

There is no guarantee that if the situation changes there will be a re-enrollment period later. Everyone will need to make their selections based upon what information they have at the time, including what we are telling you now.

As always, 1014 is committed to securing the best benefit package possible for our membership. We appreciate your support and patience as we work towards that end.

The 1014 Executive Board

Effective July 1, 2006, the "Fitness For Life" bonus of 3% went into effect. In order to receive the bonus for the first year, you must do two things: 1) Take the Fitness For Life medical exam off duty during your birth month, and 2) complete 12 hours of on-duty continuing education (currently being developed) during the fiscal year.  You will lose the bonus for one year if you do not meet these two requirements.

July and August birthday personnel who have not already done so should schedule their exams immediately and then fax their completed compliance form to Health Programs in order to keep the bonus. 

Additional information on the the Department's Fitness for Life program, including future requirements, is available on the Department's Intranet site, as well as on the "Fit For Life" site under Main Menu on the left side of this website. 

If you have any questions, or difficulty scheduling your medical exam, please contact Heatlh Programs at 323-881-3037. 

PLEASE NOTE:  The original flyer that was sent out had the last two numbers of the telephone number transposed.  If you tried to call the "old" number, you couldn't get through.  The Department has since sent out an EA ammending the telephone number to reflect the correct number above.

Local 1014 has received numerous calls from the membership questioning the contents of EA-286, “EMS UPDATE 2006 MAKE-UPS AND DE-ACCREDITATION.” 

The Department makes repeated references to their intent to de-accreditate and withhold the paramedic bonus from any post-position personnel who fail to complete the course by June 30, 2006, and to remove those personnel from their paramedic assignments.

Local 1014 realizes that there was insufficient notice and other hiccups in this process that precluded some of our members from obtaining the training as mandated.  First and foremost was the failure of the Department to allow ALL personnel to go to the class on duty.  The Battalion Chiefs had the ability to approve a variety of staffing methods, including recalls, that would and should have allowed all personnel to attend on duty.  However, many Battalions did not allow on-duty attendance, creating a disparate policy. 

Local 1014 strongly encourages all members to complete the training by June 30, 2006, but will adamantly oppose any and all attempts by the Department to penalize our members by withholding their paramedic bonus.  The removal of such a bonus is a subject of a mandatory meet and confer between the Department and the Union, and such action never took place and was a unilaterally proposed action by the Department.  Local 1014 understands the Department’s predicament in adhering to DHS mandates but will not allow our members to be financially harmed due to inconsistencies in the program.

Local 1014 is prepared to file an Unfair Labor Charge against the Department if and when any of our members are told that they are losing their paramedic bonus related to these issues.  Please contact 1^st Vice President Don Lassig or Directors Dave Lopez or Dave Morse if you have any questions concerning the EMS update.

After a year and a half of political action from Local 1014 and strong leadership from A/C John Nieto, the Pomona City Council has voted to re-instate 6 Firefighter post positions back into the city’s budget.  After about one hour of debate during last Monday’s budget planning session, Mayor Norma Torres, Councilman Elliott Rothman and Councilman Marco Robles were extremely vocal about replacing our positions before they would “vote for any new budget.”

The final vote was 5-1 to restore the positions we lost almost 2 years ago with Paula Lantz voting “NO” and George Hunter actually leaving the meeting so he wouldn’t have to vote on the issue.  Interestingly enough, the budget that was scheduled to be voted on initially DID NOT include our positions even after City Manager Doug Dunlap was given direction by Mayor Norma Torres to include the spots.

The specific time frame to get the firefighters back in the stations is somewhat tentative. The city has allocated funding starting on September 1 of this year.  Now it is up to LACoFD management staff to carry the ball to assure that these Firefighters will indeed be in the station effective September 1 of 2006.

Special thanks goes to two individuals on this one: 1014 City PAC chairman Paul Rusin and A/C John Nieto.  Paul is 1014’s political liaison to every city served by County Fire, and he has been working non-stop with extra commitment to bring the Pomona council back to center on their fire staffing.   We also want to thank Chief Nieto, who was so instrumental in bringing this issue to its successful conclusion.  He went to great lengths to educate the council and got up during the council meeting to fight hard to get “his guys” back into place.  Chief Nieto displayed the kind of leadership and commitment to his city, Pomona, that should be an example for other A/Cs to follow in their respective cities.

This was truly a team effort between management and labor.  Everyone in Battalion 15 should take the opportunity to thank Chief Nieto for championing this issue.  And we here at Local 1014 say thanks to him for his tireless efforts.

The Local 1014 Executive Board

Some employees received a notice with pay stubs describing changes to the County Termination Pay Plan (TPP) offered by the 457 (Great West) plan. It appears that the IRS is posturing to issue a negative ruling on tax deferment of termination pay and the County is going to abandon the plan. Termination pay is benefit time paid to employees (Vacation, Sick hours) that are paid usually at time of retirement as a lump sum. Termination pay is different than payments made annually for excess benefit time and was allowed - via the Termination Pay Plan - to be rolled into your 457 plan, an IRA or used to pay the purchase ARC time through LACERA.

The letter dated April 28 from CAO David Janssen allows for employees to sign up for the plan, with proper education and counseling, regardless of the known outcome of the plan. There are several dates and times given for locations of educational seminars on the Termination Pay Plan.

Local 1014's advice to its members that have NOT enrolled into the Termination Pay Plan is that they do NOT enroll - throw away the letter. Our reasoning is that it is unknown how the IRS will eventually rule on the Termination Pay Play. There are scenarios that could result in the employee being fined, and paying excessive interest and penalties to the IRS.

If you HAVE enrolled in the Termination Pay Plan as a tax deferment vehicle through a 401(a) rollover, please call Great West at 800-382-8924 and schedule an appointment with a Great West representative and discuss your options. If you used termination pay to buy ARC time through LACERA - contact LACERA immediately at 626-564-6000.

If you have any questions about the Termination Pay Plan, Please call Will Pryor at 310-639-1014 or e-mail to willp@local1014.org. (Until negotiations are over e-mail will be quicker).

Hello 1014 brothers and sisters,

Your union needs your support in the City of Pomona now through Election Day. (11/4/2006 + 11/7/2006.)

We have the opportunity to get a majority on the Pomona City council through our own political action. This is something we have not had since the city became part of the County in 1994. If you are tired of all the closing of stations talk, three man paramedic engines, closing of the light forces, etc. Then now is the time to do something about it. It seems that every fiscal emergency that the city has is put on the backs of firefighters to balance out.  This is due to the fact that other groups have had the council’s ear. Now it is our turn to get the councils ear through our hard work on this election.  We need to support the candidates that support firefighter issues and will carry them to the council. It is very simple in politics at the end of the day in Pomona. The one who can count to 4 out of 7 is the winner. If we want to be the winner it is not going to happen by accident. WE NEED YOUR HELP!  PLEASE SUPPORT YOURSELF AND YOUR UNION IN POMONA THIS WEEKEND.

1014 Executive Board

(The schedule and locations are in the attachment below.)