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Events, Help, Fundraisers & Benefits:
Manning Increase in 5 Engines!
Please refer to 65-2 Fax #77 and the news articles attached to this 65-2 for more info. Back To Top
Delegates: Fax Teleprinter Tickets to UFA!!!
The UFA urgently needs additional help from all Delegates & FFs in documenting current and future grievance and arbitration cases against the Dept. Since last winter and spring we have been asking for members to fax us the following:
- all 10-75 tickets that show where either the 1st due or 2nd due engine company normally assigned to a box was unavailable and replaced by a 3rd due, 4th due or greater engine
- all CFR-D Ladder Tickets showing Ladders responding for EMS carry downs, EMS forced entry and difficulty breathing/asthma.
- All written denials of inquiries to pay probies OT when ordered to attend mandatory 5th grade medicals.
The need is serious. If more tickets and/or documentation are not provided by members in the field, the UFA's hands will be tied in successfully fighting for these important financial and safety issues. Stay safe and stay union: fax all related documentation ASAP to the Recording Secretary, Joe Miccio at 212-683-4359.
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RSOT Denials
Members must submit copies of all RSOT denials to insure unused RSOT may be carried into 2004. Please Fax to 212-683-4359. Back To Top
2004 UFA Parking Placards for Detailed FFs
Members assigned to details must contact the Delegate of their permanently assigned company to receive placards, as the permit numbers have been accounted for that way. UFA Placards are for UFA membership use only! Use of UFA parking placards by unauthorized persons only diminishes the respect given to each member's vehicle when parked near FDNY facilities for official purposes. Non-firefighters with UFA Placards have been arrested for impersonating a firefighter. What you may perceive as a friendly gesture, may be viewed by a police officer as illegal. So when approached by non-firefighters you should simply explain the consequences of false impersonation. If your placard is lost or stolen, please insure you file a complaint report with the PD. This is required before being issued a replacement placard.
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Quartermaster Allotments
Pursuant to UFA Health & Safety Office request, the Dept has provided a Quartermaster list of uniform and protective gear allotments for all members. Please insure you post the attached list permanently and conspicuously in your firehouse. It is important that members read all footnotes on the bottom of this list before visiting the Quartermaster or before contacting the UFA Health & Safety Office regarding any problems.
Fire Marshals are provided with the following personal protective equipment by the Quartermaster: 1 pair of bunker boots, 1 turnout coat, 1 coverall, 1 helmet, 1 pair of work gloves. Their weapon, holster and magazine are provided by the City, not at the Quartermaster. Back To Top
Line-of-Duty Injury (LODI) Prescription Drugs
Injured Line-of-Duty and need prescription drugs? Ask the FDNY Physician for reimbursement instruction and/or forms. The Dept has agreed to the UFA request to provide LODI members with written instructions for reimbursement when visiting the BHS before you check out. Never use your UFA prescription drug card to fill prescription drugs for line-of-duty injuries. This unnecessarily costs your Security Benefits Fund (SBF)--at a minimum--tens of thousands of dollars annually! Keep your UFA supplemental health benefits fund (SBF) strong for many years to come by paying for all LODI prescription drugs out-of-pocket, and submitting the reimbursement form & receipt to FDNY Compensation Desk, 9 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201. This can be done in person, thru the bag, or via U.S. mail. Please ensure you keep a copy of your pharmacy receipt. Back To Top
Line-of-Duty Injury Hospital & Doctor Bills
Never give your home or firehouse address to a hospital or doctor for LODI injuries. If you do, all bills and collection efforts will come to you! Use “FDNY BHS, 9 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201†for all LODI medical forms. This address is also on your UFA calendar for reference at any time. Back To Top
PD ‘Roll-Over' Night Shift Retro $$
As a result of the UFA pursuing enforcement of the City Administrative Code, the Dept has agreed to pay all incoming FFs who rolled over from NYPD or City Corrections full Night Shift Differential if they otherwise would have received it from their prior city agency. This covers all eligible FFs hired from July 2002 and forward. Probie classes hired 7/28/02, 2/2/03 & 5/4/03 were paid this retro in the 11/21/03 paycheck. Retro payments to affected members of more recently hired classes will be made in future paychecks, dates to be announced. Back To Top
Victim's Compensation Fund: No Extensions Expected
Last Reminder! The Victim Compensation Fund is not expected to extend its December 22 deadline for filing. Back To Top
Pension Buyback Update
UFA Vice President Jim Slevin reports that the UFA is in the process of compiling the list of titles received from the membership last month regarding the pension buy-back eligibility. Hundreds of titles were titles and are being forwarded to the City Corporation Counsel for possible inclusion in the Chapter 646 pension buyback. Follow-up contacts by the UFA to all involved persons was not possible due to the large number of submissions. The UFA will publish a list of all eligible titles when finalized. Please refer to 65-2 #74 of 2003 for more info about this buyback opportunity. Back To Top
Win a Vintage 71 Porsche - and Thank America!
A classic professional Stars & Stripes' detail paint finish! Raffle proceeds will supplement the production of the video, The New York Firefighters Thank America, created for school children to thank them for the outpouring of support and donations made in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. More than 150 members from 26 different firehouses participated in the project and expressed gratitude for the thousands of letters, cards and drawings sent by children across the country after the tragedy. Raffle tickets for the Porsche will be sold citywide for $50 (3 chances per $50), with a drawing to be held at the UFA Membership meeting January 8, 2004. Make checks out to 'West Side Cultural Center' and mail to: UFA, c/o Ann Elizabeth / Rudy Sanfilippo, 204 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. Raffle stubs will be mailed to contributing members immediately upon receiving your check.
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Help Get WTC Designs to List Rescue Workers Together
The following call for participation is from the Advocates for a 9-11 Fallen Heroes Memorial, whose position the UFA supports:
On November 19, eight memorial designs were released by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). By the end of this year, one design will be chosen for the Ground Zero Memorial. While none of the designs list the uniformed rescuers in the desired respectful way, it is still possible to do so if we continue our efforts. We must go all out from now through the end of the year and continue to bombard Governor Pataki with phone calls. Call the Governor's office at 518-474-8390 (a 24/7 message center) with the following message: Governor Pataki, please ensure that the 8 finalists Ground Zero Memorial Designs are revised so that the uniformed rescuers are listed together by department, including their rank, unit and badge number, along with a recognition of their brave actions, as requested by the Advocates for a 9-11 Fallen Heroes Memorial.†Get your family, friends and co-workers to do the same. For further info call Ret. Lt. John Finucane 845-548-4234 (chairman). Back To Top
From the ‘Fire Lines' Editor
Issue after issue the Firelines publishes timely, informative news items and stories in the UFA bi-monthly newspaper…Fire Lines. Subjects vary and are written and reported to keep the membership abreast of many and new developments related to the job. Articles concerning issues with FDNY, the Security Benefit Fund, health, safety, financial matters, the President's Report and many other important issues are featured. Be certain to read the next issue, so you are up to date on UFA & FD related matters. Back To Top
Line-of-Duty Death Fund (LODD) Trips
Your UFA LODD Fund recently sent 4 members to the memorial service for a LODD FF in Kansas City, KS.FFs Wally Hyde E-42, Jason Davis E-42, Bernie Donaghy E-43 & Kenny Smith L-59 attended. The Fund also sent FFs Frank Fracchiolla E-201, Joe McKay E-201, Tim Gorman E-211 & Cody Trestrail L-119 to Portland, OR for another LODD FF funeral. These members proudly represented our membership in tribute to these fallen heros. The next firehouses scheduled to go are E-152, E-153 & L-77. Back To Top
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Team in Training
Chris Ryan, Rescue 3, will be running the Disney Marathon in January, 2004. Last year he received a great deal of support and donations totaling $7,500. This year his goal is to earn even more. He is asking each of his fellow firefighters to donate $1.00 per per FF to help reach his goal. Look for the flyers & return envelopes that have been mailed to all firehouses. Make checks out to: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and mail to Chris Ryan, c/o Maureen Ryan, 72 Sherman Ave, Walden, NY 12586. Back To Top
Five Year Memorial Mass
The officers and members of Ladder 170, Engine 257, Battalion 58, respectfully invite you to attend the five year Memorial Mass honoring: Lt. Joseph P. Cavalieri, FF Christopher M. Bopp and FF James E. Bohan, who made the supreme sacrifice on December 18, 1998. Memorial Mass, December 18, 2003 at 11 am, Holy Family R.C. Church, Rockaway Pkwy and Flatlands Ave, Brooklyn. Reception immediately following.
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Free Marriage Conference in Hershey Valentine's Day Weekend
The events of the past 27 months have certainly taken their stress toll on your families & relationships. Once again, couples interested in improving their relationship can take part in a "Family Life, Marriage Conference" the weekend of Feb. 13-15 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hotel accommodations are available at the Best Western, across from the conference center. Couples will participate in programs on ways to express forgiveness, resolve conflict, develop communication skills and achieve intimacy. The weekend is free to all FDNY personnel. For info contact (Union, NJ F.D.) B.C. Tom Byrne at 908-233-8675 or 908-482-9470 no later than January 20th. The UFA has received many favorable reviews from previously attending members and their spouses. Back To Top
Annual UFA Family Ski Day for Widows & Children
Hosted by Engine 53/Ladder 43. Friday, 1/30/04, 9 am at Sterling Forest, NY. Companies that have lost members are encouraged to bring those families to this event. All expense paid day for widows and children. Ten dollar lift ticket for everyone else. Contact Louis Giaconelli at Engine 53, 212-570-4253 or Dave Rowan, Ladder 43, 212-570-4253, or visit www.elbarriosbravest.com. Back To Top
UFA Introduces a Credit Card Benefiting Widows' & Children's Funds
The UFA is proud to announce the launch of the official Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York credit card. The card will be made available to UFA members and to the general public. A split contribution will be made to the UFA's Widows' and Children's Fund and the Thomas R. Elsasser Fund. Specifically, $10 will be donated for every card issued and used for the first time and on an on-going basis, and $0.05 for every $100 in purchases put through the card. The more you spend using the card, the greater the contribution.
Active and retiree UFA members receive preferred pricing over the rates offered to the general public. This Gold MasterCard® has been especially designed for the UFA and will stand out among other cards in the market. The card features a 5-month 0% introductory rate on purchases and balance transfers for UFA members and retirees. Thereafter, the interest rate will be the Prime Rate + 3.49% (currently 7.49% APR). There is no annual fee or balance transfer fee. In addition, the card offers a variety of benefits such as automatic rental car insurance, purchase assurance program, $150,000 common carrier travel accident insurance, roadside assistance and an extended warranty program.
National City Corporation, one of the nation's largest financial holding companies, is issuing the cards and has a great deal of experience in issuing labor-sponsored credit cards. They are the 9th largest bank in the United States and have more than $100 billion in assets. The roll out of the card program is already underway. Ask your Delegate for an application. You can complete the application and mail it in or call the toll-free number on the application to apply. UFA Members can also visit the Programs & Benefits section on the UFA website to apply on line. We encourage you apply for the card and to tell your friends and family about this opportunity to support the UFA's charitable funds. Applications will also be available for community events, outings and other UFA affairs. The goal is to encourage as many people as possible to apply for the card to provide as much support as possible for the UFA Widows' and Children's and Thomas R. Elsasser Funds. Back To Top Fraternally, Stephen J. Cassidy
President
Joseph A. Miccio
Recording Secretary
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