Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014

Representing over 3200 Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers,
Pilots, Wildland Firefighters, Forestry and Health Haz Mat personnel

CHOICES ANNUAL ENROLLMENT DEADLINE OCTOBER 31ST 2015 AT MIDNIGHT - TONIGHT – SELECT YOUR 2016 BENEFITS

Follow the instructions in your Choices Benefit Enrollment Packet but here are some reminders:

• You must finish enrollment by Midnight October 31 2015 – Online at www.mylacountybenefits.com or by phone at 1-888-822-0487.
• To access either enrollment system you need your employee number and your Personal Identification No. (MMYYYY -2 digit month and 4-digit year of your birth)
• YOU MUST ENROLL TO WAIVE MEDICAL COVERAGE or you will automatically be enrolled in Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014 Health Plan.
• YOU MUST ENROLL TO PARTICIPATE IN A HELATH CARE AND / OR DEPENDENT CARE SPENDING ACCOUNT
• YOU MUST ENROLL TO ADD INSURANCE COVERAGE OR LEVELS AND TO ADD OR DELETE DEPENDENTS FOR COVERAGE (Marriage license and Social Security Numbers Needed)

Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014 Health and Dental Plan Highlights:

• Live Health online
• FREE BODY SCAN.
• IF YOU PROMOTE TO BATTALION CHIEF BEFORE YOU HAVE SELECTED LOCAL 1014 HEALTHPLAN THE COUNTY WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO SIGN UP FOR THE PLAN EVER.  THAT MEANS YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS PLAN INTO RETIREMENT. 
• LOCAL 1014 OFFERS SUPPLEMENTAL DENTAL UP TO 2,000 LIFETIME ORTHODONTIA AND 1,000 EXCESS DENTAL COVERAGE
• VSP VISION PLAN AT MAXIMUM BENEFIT LEVELS
• TAKE THE PLAN WITH YOU “AS IS” INTO RETIREMENT

Take time to elect your Health Care, Dental, Life Insurance, AD & D and Spending Account “CHOICES” by midnight October 31, 2015.

If you have questions or need answers about the 1014 medical plan follow this link: http://www.local1014medical.org/. 

Contract update

We are still in negotiations for 603/604 as well as the CCU Fringe Benefits contract.  Most of you have been asking about extra holiday and vacation time based on what SEIU 721 has agreed to in their Fringe Contract.  We are going down the same path but have a few more items to work on and should be through soon.  There will be changes to holiday time, vacation time and the County's contirbution to your Choices plan.  Stand by....

As for the question "when will 601/602 see the COLA increase as well as all other items of the contract"?  The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to approve our contract at their next meeting on the 3rd of November and we have been informed by the Auditor Controller that our retro check and raise should appear on the paycheck of November 30 but December 15th at the very latest.

Daylight savings time ends tonight

Don't forget to change your clocks. We fall back one hour tonight (November 1) at 0200. As we recommend to all it is a good time to change your smoke detector battery as well.

Staffing these last few days have been tough

As we finish out the augmented staffing today (hopefully) we would like to acknowledge all of those that were recalled (some multiple days in a row). It has been tough being on telephone standby and a big wind event but once again the residents got lucky with no major incident. Our members are true professionals and you have been through a lot with the low staffing levels which cause many recalls. Keep safe out there and when you are off please take time to rest up and spend time with your families. Who knows what will be coming next week or when El Nino hits...

Finally as you close out this October Month with the Halloween Celebrations with your families, remember DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!  JUST DON’T DO IT!  GET A CAB, GET A RIDE OR DRIVER OR GET A ROOM if you are going to consume alcohol in your celebrations.  It’s just that simple at this point.  We all know it, and have been reminded and reminded and seen the pain and suffering a DUI or worse can cause our membership, yet a few continue to disregard the news and significantly impact their future and their families futures.  TAKE A PLEDGE NOT TO TEXT AND DRIVE ALSO….. AS BAD AS DRINKING AND DRIVING FOR ACCIDENTS AND ILLEGAL ALSO, IT IS TIME WE TACKLE THIS ALSO.  So go out and have fun, enjoy your families and celebrations, but do it responsibly.

On Behalf of your entire Local 1014 Executive Board,

Your 1014 executive board