WIDOWS & CHILDREN SKI TRIP
The UFA will conduct a safety and health training session on Tuesday, March 13th and Wednesday, March 14th. Similar presentations will be offered each day, so decide which day is best for you and call Jude Gaddis at (212) 545-6965 to register. The seminar will be held at the UFA Building at 204 East 23 Street, fourth floor meeting room. Class will be held from 0900 until 1500 hours. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. This full day of training has no excusal time for delegates scheduled to work because we are entitled to submit only one meeting per month towards excusal time and we have a general membership meeting on the 8th of March. Arrange your schedule now for a day of significant educational training. Some of the facilitators will be the former FDNY/OSHA coordinator, Tom Galvin and
Back To Top ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE IS FREE!
Only applies to active or retired members who have UFA Group Life Insurance coverage. Every active or retired member who is enrolled in and maintains their UFA Group Term Life Insurance is automatically enrolled in AIG’s AD&D policy for no extra premium charge. Principal benefit amounts for active member/spouse/children are $50,000/$25,000/$5,000, with retiree benefits at $10,000/$5,000/$2,500. This plan pays a benefit in the event you suffer a covered accidental death or dismemberment. Benefits are in addition to any other insurance which may be in effect at the time of accident. There is even coverage for cosmetic disfigurement from 3rd degree burns. Please review the entire AIG Summary Plan Description, which is in the Delegate Manual, Section White 15. Don’t miss the boat when you’ve already paid for the ticket!
Back To Top FD MANDATORY LIFE INSURANCE IMPROVEMENT
The City actuary, Bob North, attended the monthly FDNY Pension Board meeting to listen to a motion concerning the upgrading of the Mandatory Life Insurance benefit. His actuarial projections led to the approval of raising the death benefit for retirees from $5,600 to $5,800 effective January 1, 2001. NO motion was made to raise the active member ($8,500) benefit at this time. Although it is a relatively small increase, it is a step in the right direction. Please pass along to all retirees.
Back To Top UFA HEALTH AND SAFETY SEMINAR
The UFA will conduct a safety and health training session on Tuesday, March 13th and Wednesday, March 14th. Similar presentations will be offered each day, so decide which day is best for you and call Jude Gaddis at (212) 545-6965 to register. The seminar will be held at the UFA Building at 204 East 23 Street, fourth floor meeting room. Class will be held from 0900 until 1500 hours. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. This full day of training has no excusal time for delegates scheduled to work because we are entitled to submit only one meeting per month towards excusal time and we have a general membership meeting on the 8th of March. Arrange your schedule now for a day of significant educational training. Some of the facilitators will be the former FDNY/OSHA coordinator, Tom Galvin and Dr’s. Kelly and Prezant. The doctors will speak to you about your concerns with Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases. A detailed agenda will be forwarded when and if available. Limited street parking and reasonable ($12.00) lots on 24th Street.
Back To Top HEALTH CARE PACKAGE UNDER WAY
The Municipal Labor Committee has the complete signed Health Benefit Agreement which was done outside the scope of contract bargaining. It is being implemented immediately, as the City is processing the SBF lump sum contributions for 2001. The retireees SBF will receive $175 per member on March 10 and the active member fund will receive $175 per member on March 22. A second one time payment will be processed for both the active and retired SBF’s at the rate of $175 per member during July 2001. These are much needed additions which no longer have to be paid for out of this collective bargaining round of negotiations. Back To Top LASER EYE SURGERY
The program that was offered through the UFA has ended due to circumstances beyond our control. Do not call for an appointment. We will try to negotiate another eye surgery benefit with Dr. Werner for the near future.
Back To Top HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (SOC) COMPETENCY TRAINING
While the UFA is not opposed to competency testing or evaluations, it must be done within proper guidelines. As a follow up, training should only be done in the right learning environment and be performed by certified trainers. This exercise should not be an attempt by the FDNY to create the appearance of meeting annual training requirements. When you are ordered to take this test you must do so. Do not purposely fail. Do not take it as an open book exam. Do not make guesses concerning subjects you haven’t been taught. If you are unsure or uncertain of an answer, you MUST jump to the next question while leaving that one blank. You would not be expected to guess in the field at actual operations - so do not guess here! This is supposed to be a non graded evaluation for the purpose of determining what training or retraining is required. Be honest to yourself and the Department. Do not discuss test questions with other members who have yet to complete the process. We must assume that the Department is trying to use this evaluation to circumvent standardized training of SOC members and illegally comply with NFPA/DOL knowledge requirements. If we find that false reports are being logged into the database at the Bureau of Training, the UFA will file formal complaints and demand violation orders. Take these tests within the framework outlined above, so as not to assist the FDNY in fabricating a false impression. Back To Top UFA OBJECTS TO USE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS
We are drafting a letter to the Fire Commissioner for the purpose of dropping social security numbers as your identification code. For records such as training, this number is recorded to show that you have been trained at Randall’s Island, in the firehouse, or at a drill site. There is no justification to circulate this confidential information when use of your tax registry number will suffice. We will keep you posted. Back To Top SECTION 1127 TAX WAIVER LAWSUIT PLANNED
The uniformed coalition has had meetings to review the possibility of combining all the uniformed unions, if they so wish, in a joint effort lawsuit against the City’s Section 1127 (the old 822) Tax Waiver. We have examined the prior court cases and have met with an outside law firm. It looks like this will definitely move forward in the near future. The test will be to see if it’s application is constitutional under Federal law. We will keep you posted of all progress, as this is sure to be a long, drawn out battle.
Back To Top DOMESTIC PARTNERS & VARIOUS INSURANCE COVERAGES
To qualify as a domestic partner relationship, you must apply through the NYC Health Benefits Office at (212) 306-7336. They will send an application, which must be completed and returned to their office. If requirements are met, your request will be approved. That allows your partner to be covered under the basic city health plan. What do you do next?
Because the SBF mirrors the NYC requirements, once approved as a domestic partner, you must forward a copy of the approval paperwork to the union office. Only then will your partner be added for SBF welfare benefits. The same process is required for inclusion in Wohlers Catastrophic Insurance. After NYC approval is granted, you can apply via a special application form which must be sent to you by Wohlers Catastrophic - call 1-800 503-9230.
As far as the UFA Group Life Insurance Plan, there is NO coverage for domestic partners through the AIG life insurance company. Although you must choose “with dependent coverage†to insure any of your children, there will be no spouse coverage for domestic partners. The premium is the same either way. Back To Top HUD “OFFICER NEXT DOOR PROGRAM†TO EXPAND
Some of you may be aware of the H.U.D. program currently available to police officers, where they have preferential access to home foreclosures before they go on market. This program makes the home available at 50% off their list price, with a requirement that its remains your primary residence for 3 years. Bill Mirro was responsible for the effort put forth on behalf of professional firefighters through Hometrust Mortgage Bankers of Syosset, in attempting to expand this valuable program to members of the FDNY. Contact was made with Senator Charles Schumer, who unveiled a new initiative two weeks ago to expand the HUD program to professional and volunteer firefighters across the country. Senator Schumer said “They clearly deserve access to a program that is designed to make the American Dream of home ownership a reality for dedicated public servants.†The work towards passage of this bill is expected to take about six months. More later. Back To Top TPR INQUIRY FORMS AND CFR-D
Reminder - Any TPR inquiry forms by ladder/marine units for payment of the CFR-D differential MUST BE accompanied by a PCR showing each member’s name and telling what CFR function was performed. Without all 3 pages (inquiry, PCR and teleprinter ticket) your request will be returned without approval. Back To Top Fraternally, WILLIAM F. MIRRO
Recording Secretary, KEVIN E. GALLAGHER
President
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