Many companies have contacted the UFA requesting clarification regarding entitlement to uninterrupted meal. All Delegates were provided with meal period schedules and PA/ID 2-79 at the 9/8 Union Meeting. Section 1 states: "A meal period program is established within the department in order that members may plan for an uninterrupted meal. During this period no clerical or maintenance functions other than housewatch duty and emergency duties affecting the ability of the unit to respond and operate at fires (e.g., filling booster tanks), shall be performed."
Section 2.2 states "Units will not respond during their scheduled meal period except as cited in Section 3" See below. PA/ID 2-79 directs the officer to "check the teleprinter message to determine if a response is required as per Section 3..." If not required to respond, the officer "shall telephone dispatcher indicating that the unit is not responding due to meal." Section 3 states that units shall respond:
- To all alarms received when there is a 3rd or greater alarm in their borough;
- To all verbal alarms;
- To all structural alarms;
- To all mechanical street boxes, except those designated as DRB;
- If a 10-75 or greater signal is received for an alarm to which they are assigned to respond;
- To relocations as directed;
- As directed by the dispatcher.
- If the Citywide Command Chief or Borough Commander has suspended meal periods due to fire traffic, lack of units or other emergency conditions.
However, Section 2 notes "If members are unable to eat during the scheduled meal period due to fire or emergency operations, AFID, AFRD, or MUD, members shall eat when time permits and respond to all alarms as assigned."
NOTE: After review by UFA Counsel, members are advised to follow orders, and then fax tickets in question to the UFA Recording Secretary, Attn: Joe Miccio at 212-683-4359 (or 212-683-0710 if busy). Please do not call your Trustee, as a copy of the ticket will be provided to him. Note on ticket if you were ordered to respond. PA/ID 2-79 notes that dispatcher misinterpretation of 2-79 shall be handled through channels or grievance. Tickets will be used for these purposes, not for immediate resolution at company level.
Fraternally,
