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Events, Help, Fundraisers & Benefits:
Contract
The UFA has completed its 3rd negotiation session with the City on Monday. The next scheduled meeting is February 26th. Back To Top
Company Closings, Marshal Cuts, Manning Reductions & increased Response Time Contribute to Danger & Death
Increased hazards to civilians and FFs are caused by the company closings, Fire Marshal reductions/base closings, closing companies for the day and reduced manning. See attached media articles, which report the UFA citing increased response times, needless deaths and a huge increase of uninvestigated fires. The UFA will continue to utilize the media to highlight Dept policies that endanger FFs and the public we are sworn to protect. Back To Top
MLC Health Benefits Agreement
A breakdown explaining how this agreement affects your health plans is detailed in 65-2 #7 of 2004, Special: New Health Benefits Agreement. Please insure you review it. Back To Top
Grievance Filed re Raid to Protect Your Rights
A key role of the UFA is to insure that your rights under the law and existing policies are protected from management abuses--without prejudice or exception. Pursuant to the UFA 2000-2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the UFA has filed a grievance on January 22, 2004 against the Department for what we believe to be a blatant violation of its existing policy during its raid of a firehouse and its handling of our members. Existing policy states that individual FFs may be tested if an officer observes behavior which is indicative that the particular member is under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance--which was not done in this recent case. If your quarters are visited, be mindful of your rights. If the Department wants to urine test any or all members present, contact the on-duty Trustee immediately! Back To Top
2004 UFA Legislative Agenda
UFA Legislative Chairman and Vice President Jim Slevin reports the current legislative agenda in 65-2 #8 of 2004, Special Legislative Issue. It lists the status of various important bills, including the WTC Presumptive Bill, Taylor Law Reform, Pension, Staffing, 1127 and more. A visit to the UFA website Legislative Section will also allow you to click the link for each bill, giving you quick access to the entire bill. Back To Top
UFA Delegate Manual Advisory Committee
UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio has been working on the project of converting the UFA Delegate Manual into an electronic format that is readily editable, easily published in hard copy on-demand, for future distribution to Delegates on CD-ROM--and web-posting of certain sections. The tedious process of identifying all segments and grouping related topics in common chapters (with cross references to other sections) is getting closer to the review and feedback phase. The Recording Secretary is working with Delegates from each borough in this important capacity. Back To Top
W-2 Explanations & LODI Deductions
Make sure you review 65-2 #9 of 2004, Special Tax Issue. This information was provided by the Department and gives explanations re certain items on your W-2. It also lists each grade's LODI deduction per Diem for 2003, as was provided by FDNY Payroll, which was previously published on 65-2 #5, January 30th. Back To Top
Life Insurance Open Enrollment Summary
Open Enrollment for our UFA Life Insurance runs from January 15 to March 15 this year. Don't miss this opportunity for you and your families to get coverage--without having to take a medical exam and blood test! Currently insured members may also increase their coverage without testing as well during this period. UFA Life Insurance literature and info was distributed at the February 12th Union Meeting to all Delegates. For enrollment questions or more forms, please contact Maria Zingone at (212) 683-4832 or e-mail her at lifeinsurance@ufanyc.org. Back To Top
Help! 'NYC Firefighters Thank America' --Win a Porsche!
Remember the thousands of letters, cards and drawings that poured in from kids all around the country after 9-11? More than 150 members from 26 different firehouses participated in the video project "The New York Firefighters Thank America". Raffle proceeds will supplement the production of the video, which was created to thank the hundreds of thousands of school children for their huge outpouring of support and donations. The goal is to produce and send a copy to every elementary school in America. The prize, a classic professional 'Stars & Stripes' detail paint finished Vintage '71 Porsche, will be raffled off after the goal of $10,000 worth of raffle sales is reached. Tickets are $50 (3 chances per $50). Make checks out to ‘West Side Cultural Center’ and mail to: UFA
204 East 23rd Street,
New York, NY 10010.
c/o Ann Elizabeth / Rudy Sanfilippo Raffle stubs will be mailed to contributing members immediately upon receiving your check. We all received this incredible outpouring of support. Please ask your house commissary to invest in a ticket or two, and let's show America's youngest our appreciation! Back To Top
Line-of-Duty Death Fund (LODD) Trips
Your UFA LODD Fund recently sent members to the funeral services for the following FFs who made the supreme sacrifice: Worcester, MA Lt. Richard W. Halvorsen--FFs Michael Modafferi (E-153), Paul Marten (E-153), Frank Cseko (E-154) & Eric Manasso (E-154) attended. These members proudly represented our membership in tribute to these fallen heroes. The next firehouses scheduled to go are E-45/L-58 and E-46/L-27.
Catastrophe Major Medical Insurance
Some accidents or major illnesses can leave you injured and may require extensive surgery, long-term hospitalization and perhaps home health care before you are fully recovered. If your health care bills go beyond your medical plan's cap, then you have to pay. The Catastrophe Major Medical Plan pays when your basic health insurance plan has reached its limit, including Medicare. This plan is available to UFA members through the Insurance Administrator, Marsh Affinity Group Services, a service of Seabury & Smith (formerly Albert H. Wohlers & Co.) For more info, call 800-503-9230, or visit www.seaburychicago.com/plans/ufa, where you can download brochures or applications. Back To Top
Attention Family Liaisons
Due to transfers, retirements and promotions, many companies have new family liaisons. Lt. Phil Duncan (Ret.), the liaison coordinator at the FDNY Counseling Service Unit, has been working with over 200 liaisons since 9/11 and would like to speak to any new liaisons that have stepped up in the last year. The liaison job is a very difficult one and it affects your own life and family. Please feel free to call him so he can assist you with any issue or difficulty you may be having as liaison: CSU 212-570-1693, cell 917-468-5151. Back To Top
1st Class of 1989
Any members from the 1st class of 1989, 4-15-89, interested in having a 15 year celebration, please contact Mike Stevenson or John Sepa at Division 7, 718-430-0207. Back To Top
Andrew McArdle Memorial Golf Outing
Monday, April 26, 2004. Centennial Golf Course. Golf, Dinner and prizes. Golf $160, hole sponsor $150. All proceeds to benefit the Andrew McArdle Sports Scholarship Fund. Make checks payable to Andrew McArdle Scholarship Fund. Name as you would like it to read on the hole. Mail all checks by April 7th to Terry & James Oliver, 8 Collier Drive East, Carmel, NY 10512. Any questions call 845-228-4211 or e-mail at Olivers26@rcn.com. Back To Top
Fraternally, Stephen J. Cassidy
President
Joseph A. Miccio
Recording Secretary
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