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Brothers and Sisters,
This Friday as we continue the hard and complex work following settling our contract to ensure our department is fiscally sound and in a direction to set a Fire Chief and Leadership Team that will provide the passion and the vision to help move us to an amazingly bright future we would like to take this weekend to step back and reset a bit.
On this weekend, we all take a moment to remember a man who worked hard to bridge the gaps between people, politics, race, and gender to work together on a brighter future for us all. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a noble peace prize recipient in 1964 for his work towards racial equality through non-violence and protest. Dr. King had many impactful thoughts, speeches, and quotes that helped move people together in a shared vision of community and an American Dream shared by all.
Here are three quotes that help us remember Labor’s role in wages, benefits, and equality for all creating a path to provide for families and help us all build a brighter future:
“The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.”
“ All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence”
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The True neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”
Dr. King reminds us that we did not get to where we are by accident and, in fact, many battles and struggles for equality and in labor wages and benefits that matter and set a standard that allows our families to enjoy a fair and in fact better than the fair standard of living. The firefighter unions and all other Unions have formed a strong and blue-collar grassroots alliance to ensure we protect and advance the issues and items affecting our members' work and, as a result, our lives.
We have much work to do and the lift will, as always, be heavy at times. During this weekend, as we reset to tackle all of the hard and pressing issues to ensure our LA County Fire Department is moving towards brighter and better times, let us, in the spirit of Dr. King, use our federal holiday and four-day weekend to celebrate his legacy by serving others and by being kind and helpful to each other. Use this holiday to serve others less fortunate and perhaps in need of our love and both professional and personal compassion.
Local 1014 along with our Labor partners, will be busy helping with community events throughout the weekend, including an LA Federation of Labor Dr. Martin Luther King Labor Breakfast, where Union and Community Leaders from throughout LA County will come together to pray and discuss issues affecting our community and to renew our commitment to work together to make it better. We also will be participating along with our Department in honoring Dr. King at the Los Angeles Kingdom Day Parade. Come join us or watch it on tv.
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Presented by the Congress Of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA), the Kingdom Day Parade is regarded as America’s largest celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. With the theme "Making America The Last Best Hope of The World" the 38th edition of the parade is taking place on Monday, Jan. 16 beginning at 11 a.m. and will broadcast and live stream on ABC7.
Have a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. 4-Day Holiday weekend in service to others. Be safe at work and at home.
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TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: NOZZLE FORWARD FREE FOR LACOFD MEMBERS
Nozzle Forward at FS. 13 on January 25th & 26th. Students are to bring their helmet, Turnout jacket, pants & boots. There is no fee for LACoFD members! Email: joe.valdivia@lacounty.gov for questions and information about registration. |
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SIGN UP TODAY! BLOOD DRIVE: THIS WEEK!!!! WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH
DONATE BLOOD AND ENTER THE RAFFLE TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO THE SUPERBOWL!
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!
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In Solidarity We Work to the Rule,
President Dave Gillotte and the Local 1014 Executive Board |
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