CONTRACT UPDATE
The Uniformed Forces Coalition continues to pursue an acceptable contract for our memberships. We are not pursuing Concession Bargaining. We are looking for a fair base pay wage increase for our membership and are trying to create credit for Unit Bargaining to pursue other items that are important to our membership without giving up hard earned items won in previous negotiations. The rumors about selling the chart are just that, rumors. Our next scheduled meeting with the City is July 26th. We will call an immediate meeting of the Battalion Advisory Committee as soon as an acceptable package is presented to the Coalition. We will keep you updated.
GET BACK YOUR ORDERED (FORCED) VACATION DAY
The UFA won a decision at the Board of Collective Bargaining concerning the Department’s unilateral change of policy concerning holidays for members assigned off-line. If you are in any off-line assignment and your office is closed on a holiday, you do not have to utilize a vacation day in order to receive that day off. At a joint UFA/UFOA labor management meeting at headquarters, Commissioner Feehan and Chief Nigro agreed to assist us in returning vacation days to any member who was forced to switch the holiday for their regular day off, or who was forced to utilize a vacation/comp day on that holiday. Since this union challenge was upheld at BCB, it means that the old status quo policy must be restored and adhered to. If you are now owed any vacation time, please contact Chief Nigro’s office. Back To Top CFR/EMT RECERTIFICATION FOR EMS PROMOTED FIREFIGHTERS
Probationary firefighters who were promoted from the EMS ranks, or any proby who happened to have EMT status, are to be recertified for CFR-D by the Department before their current certification expires. The FDNY must offer you CFR-D training. Only if you wish to recertify as an EMT will you do so. You can not be forced to maintain your EMT status. If you elect to maintain the higher level, you must be paid 32 hours of overtime as per our UFA contract. When EMT recertification is not your choice, the FDNY must recertify you for CFR D. Any attempt to utilize our members above CFR-D is a mandatory subject for Collective Bargaining. Back To Top SWIFT UPDATING OF DEPENDENT(S) STATUS - EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
As we explain to each and every proby class, you MUST update all changes in dependent status as soon as possible after marriage, divorce, births, student eligibility, etc. This must be reinforced by each delegate to all company members. Since the UFA and FDNY do not co mingle any personnel information, changes in family status (or address/telephone) must be recorded with BOTH the FDNY and our SBF office.
We receive more and more calls that dependents are not covered for prescriptions, because the SBF was never notified of changes or additions. Seabury & Smith, carrier of our Wohler’s Catastrophic Major Medical plan, is especially strict when it comes to notification. Since Wohlers (and not the SBF office) is the administrator of this plan - you must also notify them directly of any births if you wish to have benefit coverage. If you do not let them know of additions within 30 days of an event, then that dependent will be added BUT the 12 month restriction concerning pre-existing medical conditions only begins when that addition notification is made and plan coverage will not be retroactive. Back To Top APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION TO LIEUTENANT
We have received numerous complaints about the brief prior notification for the application filing period of Lieutenant’s Exam #0540. A letter has been sent to the Citywide Administrative Services requesting that they permit an additional week for filing to be certain that no firefighter is deprived of the opportunity to take the exam because he did not receive adequate notice of the filing period. This has been done in the interest of fairness and equity. We await a response Back To Top BENEFIT FOR LT. BRIAN SULLIVAN, ENGINE 217
Another brother in need, Lt. Brian Sullivan, will be having a fundraiser hosted by Engine 217 on Thursday, August 2nd. Family and friends are welcome from 3:00 p.m. at Fort Tilden building T-25, Queens. A $25 admission includes food, beverage, DJ, live music and raffle drawing. Take Belt Parkway to Flatbush Ave South. Go over Marine Park Bridge and bear right towards Breezy Point. Turn left at traffic light into park. Back To Top MILITARY BUY BACK TIME - PAYMENT OPTION
Up until now, payment towards any military buy back time could only be made as a lump sum. You now have the second option of making payments stretched out over time. Keep this in mind when inquiring at the FDNY Pension Department about your particular eligible time and cost factor. Back To Top POSSIBLE EXPOSURES AT FATHER’S DAY FIRE
Because it is unknown at this time, we ask that all members who operated at the June 17th fifth alarm in Astoria protect themselves by filing a CD-73 for exposure to unknown chemicals. Back To Top BRAVEST FOOTBALL CLUB HOSTS HEROES FUNDRAISER
On Wednesday, July 25th, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the FDNY Bravest Football Club will host a fundraiser for the “Heroes Fund”. The location is Tammany Hall at 218 East 53rd Street, Manhattan. A $10 donation at the door entitles you to one free drink. All monies collected at the door go to the “Heroes Fund”. Members of the football club will also be bartending, with all of their tips going directly to the Heroes Fund. Drink specials for firefighters with I.D. and all ladies ($3 domestic/$4 imported beers and $1 off liquor drinks). This is to benefit the widows and eight children of Harry Ford, Brian Fahey and John Downing. Harry was an active member of the Bravest Football the last 27 years (14 as player, 13 as alumni). Back To Top NIGHT OF ROCK & ROLL FUNDRAISER
Soundsations Mobile DJ & Karaoke presents DJ Ken Kojak “Who loves ya baby” - a night of Rock & Roll Dance and Show. This benefit is for the families of our three firefighters that lost their lives in the Astoria Fire on Father’s Day. It will be on Sunday, August 19th from 5:00 till ?? Location is SOCA PARADISE at Jamaica Ave and Francis Lewis Boulevard, Queens Village. Features: Twin Gold (fantastic female harmony); Powerglide (50's, 60's, 70's band); The Wrenditions (acapella at it’s best); and music/impressions by Barry Feterman and Rich DiLallo. Tickets are $20. Checks payable to Father’s Day Fire Fund - sent c/o Ken Rappaport, 49 Oxford Rd, East Rockaway, NY 11518, telephone (516) 816-3045. Includes free food, snacks and dessert, with a cash bar. Sponsored by Waldbaums, Entenmanns, Legend Pharmacy, Frito Lay and the Jamaica Rotary Foundation..
Back To Top UFA DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR SPLISH SPLASH, LONG ISLAND’S WATER PARK
SPLISH SPLASH WATER PARK tickets on sale for members, families and friends of the UFA. Their summer season continues through Labor Day. Discount tickets available for any day during the summer. Cost is $20.95 per person (a $5 savings) and $14.95 under 48" tall (a $2 savings). Please contact Amy Sullivan at the UFA office (212) 683-4832 for tickets. All checks should be made out to the Uniformed Firefighters Association and postal money orders are preferred. Once purchased, tickets are non-refundable after Labor Day. Discounted tickets are only available from the UFA, not at the park entrance. The park also provides BBQ Packages of 4 hours unlimited food service for groups of at least 100 people, for $35.95 per person plus 18% service charge and sales tax. Also available are Hawaiian Luaus, clambakes and lobster fests. This price includes admission to the park! Check it out at WWW.SPLISHSPLASHLONGISLAND.COM. Back To Top
Fraternally, WILLIAM F. MIRRO
Recording Secretary, KEVIN E. GALLAGHER
President
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