Friday Update 12-9-22
Updated On: Dec 20, 2022


 



Do Not Volunteer for Any Department Projects or Committees Unless Issued Direct Orders in Writing and Call The Union
Brothers and Sisters,

As your executive board works almost daily with the CEO on Year 3 funding for our contract and as the last two BOS meetings for the year near, with December 20th the last opportunity to craft a deal taking Local 1014 Members, the largest and most on the front line members of our organization into the holidays in a good place for our families, we need solidarity and understanding that business as usual is at an absolute stop.  

WORK TO THE RULE. DO ONLY YOUR REQUIRED JOB DUTIES AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND NOT A DAMN THING MORE.  The only thing we fight to finish this contract with a fair deal is the funding for our Department in Year 3 of the contract.  

We want to remind all that while we have had management change, we still have all the same players in place who have been responsible for our budget and the leadership void.  Chief Marrone has made strides and continues to move in the right direction, but accountability across the Executive Staff spectrum is desperately needed as we head into 2023.  Along with the Year 3 plan we have been working with the CEO and the BOS on, we are also seeking the Interim Fire Chief’s direct support for the plan to get our contract done.  We have spoken offline and in the next two weeks, we will be officially on the record with the BOS in closed session with the Fire Chief in place to weigh in with his support.  We will report directly to you with the level and details of support as we work to get this done by the 20th.  Thank you in advance Chief Marrone for understanding the task at hand and your actions to make right budget allocations for the people doing the work every bit as much for your members as you do to buy engines, trucks, squads and of course helicopters.

The very nature of Work to the Rule goes against every trait we have as the best firefighters in the world. We understand that.   Usually, we come to work and do absolutely everything asked of us without hesitation.  Our Chief Officers have received their COLA. They didn’t have to request or demand it, they got it with a motion for all County Chiefs and Managers in bulk. They didn’t have to implement ‘Work To The Rule’ to say we deserve it too.  The fact is we are being treated differently, and it is unfair. Unfair is a term in labor that means exactly what it says, unfair labor practice in dealing with a contract has consequences administratively and literally with job actions. 

While we have tremendous support from a large cross section of Battalion Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, and we want to thank the Chiefs who have stood in SOLIDARITY with the men and women they lead, we also have been handling a fair number of complaints of managers not understanding the issues and the impact on our members and our families.  There have been some callous and cold shoulder conversations and intimations from officers with our members, with attempts to harass and intimidate our members into handling the extra job duties and tasks at hand as if nothing is wrong with our contract not settled.  

Each of you OWN THIS DEPARTMENT with ONE BADGE, ONE BEAR, ONE SHARE. No different than any Chief Officer or even the Fire Chief himself, equal ownership in service to the people.  Stand your ground and ask to have every order and every bark to get things outside of emergency and regular duties reduced to in writing orders and call us immediately. 
 
For those instances and for those managers who press on our members, remember, Work to the Rule is exactly what it implies. Show up on time and do only the duties you are required to do. Do not volunteer for anything extra. This includes extra duties such as committees, training cadres* (train with your companies, nothing else), special assignments, special details, errands, or favors for the Chief Officers, and with upcoming division inspections, DO ONLY YOUR REQUIRED DUTIES. Washing, fueling, ice chests, maintenance, and pushing ‘En route for the Chief Officers’ is NOT your duty.   These tasks have always been a mutual respect favor for them while they showed us the same. Each employee is responsible for the vehicle they are assigned. It is their responsibility to do these things for themselves. Do not do a single extra thing beyond your assigned duties. If they want in on chow, put them in the cooking rotation.

They need to show us the same respect as we have always shown them. They have their COLA, and until they value us as they value themselves, we will “Just Say No”! Let their turnout times reflect their efforts, not ours. With division inspections coming up, DO THE BARE MINIMUM. Don’t bust your asses for Chiefs who don’t care about you or your family’s well-being. You and everyone in your division will show them the same respect they have shown us.  Show them we are fed up with being treated unfairly.  This is real and our level of tolerance for this behavior is over and at an absolute end. 
 
While some members have been somewhat unclear on some aspects of Work to the Rule, or had chiefs push them to just handle things to the side, it’s all stop 100% at this critical time in the next two to three weeks.  

Thank you to all who have shouldered the uncomfortable burden of absolute Work to the Rule, and we appreciate the vast majority that have. Those who don’t think this is serious need to better understand what is going on. We rarely call on you for help. Now that we are, please realize the seriousness and complexity before us all.

If you allow them, the Chiefs and the County will continue to disrespect you and your families. It's apparent management doesn’t believe in leading from the front, and the CEO sees no worth in her firefighters, treating us as numbers. They have titles but fail to fulfill their job requirements. Our membership should be angry that we continually get mistreated. Remember, the Executive Staff has been around for years and has failed to sound any alarms, or to propose any fixes for our budget other than to reduce staffing. It’s unfathomable that they took or even think they deserve a raise and we do not. Do as I say and not as I do, lead from the back and go home and have hot chocolate and get ready for the holidays while we fight in the last weeks for our raise.

It’s pivotal we continue to stand together. Your 1014 leadership needs ALL of you to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. The time for asking nicely is over and everyone should be angry. We are stronger as 3,400 members. It is time to come together and use that strength to get what we deserve.
 
Thank you again for all of you, your support, and all you do day in and day out.

Chief Marrone and Executive Staff, this is a direct message to sound the alarm and let you know, we are tired. We serve without question, valiantly and bravely. Our deal is with the communities of people we serve and we are sounding the alarms to them also with frustration and disappointment in where we stand.  We need you all to lean into the work, put your backs into it and work on our behalf to help right the ship now.  Let’s get this contract done, and get everyone working together to get this place back in shape.  

We are a great organization and we can shine again if we stop talking about it and actually get to it.  There are many things unresolved that need attention, and after this contract is settled we have the heaviest work ahead of us to get our financial and operational future set.  This Local will be at the heart of our work comp reforms, revenue stream work including a ballot measure again with signatures requiring only 50% plus one, changing state monies for wildfire and camps, chasing grants, reducing expenditures and prioritizing that which we do spend.  

Again, for those chief officers standing in continued support of the men and women you lead, thank you. Please let the others know what “right” looks like and lean on them too.  The time of silence and complicit mediocrity in leadership needs to end on all levels, officer and rank and file.  We must push hard to seek excellence in service and excellence in taking care of those who serve. 
SIGN UP TODAY! BLOOD DRIVE: JANUARY 18TH 

January is National Blood Donor Month – resolve to be a regular blood donor and help save lives! The blood supply is at an all-time low for the American Red Cross. They have reached out to our Union for help. We consistently show up for the Red Cross, so they are once again asking our members and families to step up. 

Blood is needed every two seconds across the U.S. to help patients battling injury and illness. Each year, the American Red Cross sees a decline in blood donation products following the holiday season. The winter months can be especially difficult to collect enough blood and platelets to meet patient needs
 
As part of our commitment to our communities, Local 1014 will be hosting a blood drive Wednesday, January 18th, from 9am-3pm at our Union Hall. It only takes 30 mins to save 3 lives. Sign up today and be a hero!         
 
SIGN UP FOR THE BLOOD DRIVE TODAY! 

In Solidarity We Work to the Rule, 

President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board 

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