1. Battalion Delegates Vote in Favor of Contract
Company Delegates met on March 20 with the Executive Board to discuss and have questions answered regarding the tentative contract. The Battalion Delegates met at the UFA office with the UFA Executive Board on March 13. The contract was fully explained, FAQs and other informative contract information were distributed and all questions were answered. After reviewing all information and having questions answered, the Battalion Delegates took a non-binding advisory vote, in accordance with UFA Constitution requirements. The Battalion Delegates voted in favor of the contract (33 yes, 17 no, 1 absent).

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2. UFA Tentative Contract Explained to Delegates
Within the first 24 hours after the UFA Executive Board signed the tentative agreement last Month, the UFA office was flooded with calls reacting to numerous rumors about the contract. One particular rumor is that specialty pay is funded by Homeland Security and that the differential could have been spread among the other FDNY units. These rumors are entirely false. At the March Special Delegate Meeting, all Delegates were provided with a complete copy of the ‘Memorandum of Agreement', including all available Articles, Schedules and Attachments and also Special Contract FAQ 65-2 #27. Steve Cassidy and UFA Labor attorney Mike Axelrod explained each item and answered all questions regarding the tentative agreement.

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3. April 12 Union Meeting Rescheduled
The April 12 Union Meeting noted in the 2007 UFA Workchart Calendar has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 19, in accordance with UFA Constitution Requirements for the Contract Ratification process. A Special Delegate Only Meeting will take place at 10am sharp on April 19, where each Company Delegate will vote. If approved by a majority, a ballot will mail to each member's residence in accordance with the below schedule. The General Membership Union Meeting will immediately follow at 11am.

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4. Contract Ratification Process and Dates
The timelines of all meetings and mailings regarding the tentative contract, as required by and in accordance with the UFA Constitution, are scheduled as follows:

• 03/07: Mailed complete copies of original Memorandum of Agreement with all attachments (tentative contract) to all Delegate residences and FHs, including each Executive Board Member's vote regarding the agreement.
• 03/08, 11:30am (Thur): General Membership Meeting, addressed all contract questions, and general issues
• 03/13, 10:30am (Tue): Battalion Delegate meeting, discussed agreement, took non-binding advisory vote.
• 03/20, 10:30am (Tue): Special Delegate Union Meeting, explained and discussed contract only.
• 04/19, 10:00am (Thur): Delegate Meeting, roll-call vote on contract
• 04/19, 11:00am (Thur): General Membership Union Meeting (April 12 meeting rescheduled to this date)
• 04/25: If approved by Delegates at 04/19 meeting, mail to all member residences terms of the entire collective bargaining agreement, including each Executive Board Member's vote regarding the agreement.
• 04/30: Ballots mail from American Arbitration Association to all member residences (and email to all overseas military members) if Delegate roll-call contract vote is approved at 04/19 meeting.
• 05/10: Ballots counted at American Arbitration Association with UFA Election Committee and Recording Secretary oversight. A majority of members must vote in favor of the tentative agreement to ratify the contract.
• Week of 05/21: Expected announcement by Dept of dates for retroactive $$ pay and implementation of increased salary scales.

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5. 2006 LODI FICA Refund in March 23 Paycheck
Per FDNY Payroll and DO #23: FICA Refunds for 2006 LODI are included on the March 23, 2007 paycheck. The amount of the refund is indicated as "FICA Refund" and is listed in the deduction section at the bottom of your check stub as a negative deduction. The amount of your FICA refund is simply added to your net pay, and does not affect 2007 earnings or 2007 FICA/Medicare earnings or withholding. The amount of the FICA Refund depends on various factors such as when the LODI was incurred, and whether or not the maximum FICA withholding was reached. For example, a member who already reached the maximum FICA withholding (6.2% of $94,200 or $5,840.40) before incurring LODI, will only have the Medicare portion (1.45%) refunded. Since the FICA Refund is indicated as a negative deduction, it is possible for members with large amounts of LODI to have a FICA Refund in excess of other total deductions. In these cases, the "Total Deductions" amount on a member's checkstub could indicate a negative number. UFA NOTE: This week's refund has nothing to do with the FICA LODI refund forms that are due by April 5th for tax years 1989 through 2005. Those years will be refunded at a later date.

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6. 2006 W-2: Verifying Annual LODI Tax Deductions
The UFA published Special 2006 Tax Year 65-2 #13, which includes a per diem salary rate chart that will allow you to verify the Dept's calculations. It also includes much more info re your paycheck deductions, FICA and tax calculations. It was mailed to all FHs, Delegate residences and distributed at the February Union Meeting.

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7. Purple K Unit Chauffeur Training
Per DO #19, all members of the following units have been trained and companies issued the necessary equipment and second piece of apparatus and are placed in service as Purple K Units: Purple K Unit 33 (E-33/Backup E-3), Purple K Unit 84 (E-84 / Backup E-59), Purple K Unit 163 (E-163 / Backup E-157), Purple K Unit 326 (E-326 / Backup E-315), Purple K Unit 228 (E-228 / Backup E-247) & Purple K Unit 229 (E-229 / Backup E- 230). Per Chief Cassano at 2/16 Labor-Management meeting, All Purple K second piece chauffeurs receive chauffeur TPR marks. All members of primary and backup Purple K units will be trained for second piece operation.

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8. Probie CFR-D Training Refunds
Probies who were N.Y. State CFR-D certified prior to appointment are not required to pay the Dept for training, even if the Dept has provided them with CFR-D NYS Certification training. A number of probationary firefighters who had CFR-D current certification prior to beginning the academy, were erroneously charged for CFR-D training provided by the Dept. After the issue was raised by the UFA, the Dept informed the UFA that it had investigated and repaid the affected members. Probies who believe they were improperly billed must report this to Chief Gerrity at the academy for correction. If the issue is not resolved at that level, the UFA should be contacted.

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9. ROTH IRA Taxability
It has come to the attention of the UFA that member Roth IRA's may be subject to an excise tax if your salary and/or contribution levels have exceeded certain levels in any given tax year. Some members may have exceeded these levels due to the large amount of retro $$ received in tax year 2006. Members are advised to check with their own investment or tax advisors, who are more familiar with their individual circumstances. The UFA cannot provide guidance regarding this issue, as each member's circumstance is unique.

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10. Security Benefits Fund (SBF) Help Table at Union Meetings
Members who require help regarding dental, prescription drugs, optical or any other benefits provided via the UFA SBF can visit the SBF table at each month's General Membership Union Meeting, or ask their Delegate to do so. SBF personnel are there to help you. Also, as always, the SBF is available by phone or for walk-in visits during business hours at the UFA.

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11. Reminder: Delegate Seminar Registration Deadline
Delegates must return registration forms and payment to the UFA no later then March 31 or lose the special hotel discounted rate. The UFA can only accept Seminar Registration Forms with a check via US Mail or in person (not by phone). For newer Delegates, this is an extremely important seminar that will help educate you on many matters of importance, including workers' rights, health, safety, work issues & financial matters. Rush your registration forms in the prepaid envelope well before March 31—and save over $150 per night!!! Delegates should call or email Denise at the Recording Secretary's office ASAP if help is needed.

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Fraternally,

Stephen J. Cassidy
President

Joseph A. Miccio
Recording Secretary