Union & Health Issues:

• Involuntary Details Lawsuit Filed Against the Dept
• UFA Answering Service Direct Telephone #
• W-2s & Verifying Line-of-Duty Injury (LODI) Tax Deduction
• Line-of-Duty Death Fund (LODD) Trips
• UFA Calendar Correction

Events, Help, Fundraisers & Benefits:

Ski Races at Hunter Mountain
Fundraiser for the Arce-Boyle (E33) Memorial Fund
Third Annual Iron Skillet Cook Off
FDNY Baseball Team
FDNY Bravest Kickboxing Club
WTC Hero's Cross Pendants, and Memorial Golf Outing
C.S.U: WTC Brothers and Dads Meeting
Win a 2004 Harley-Davidson Road King Motorcycle

Involuntary Details Lawsuit Filed Against the Dept
The UFA filed suit in the United States District Court Eastern District of New York on Jan. 15. 2004 against TheNew York City Fire Department and The City of New York. This suit was instituted to address the egregious and unlawful policies and practices implemented through the Department's Involuntary Detail (Lift) Policy, which we believe is illegal. The Defendants as named are: Nicholas Scoppetta, Fire Commissioner; Frank Cruthers, Chief of Department; Salvatore Cassano, Chief of Operations; The NYC Fire Department; and The City of New York. The prominent law firm of Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. is representing the UFA. This is a civil action seeking money damages and affirmative relief based upon the Defendants' violation of the Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, NYS Executive Law, NYS Human Rights Law, NYC Administrative Code and The Labor Management Relations Act. Updates will be provided as the suit evolves.

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UFA Answering Service Direct Telephone #
If you have any difficulty getting through to the UFA Answering Service for urgencies, please call the direct number at 212-627-9111 -- but only if you cannot get through when using the UFA general number.

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W-2s & Verifying Line-of-Duty Injury (LODI) Tax Deduction
The Dept computes your LOD medical leave days automatically and deducts the dollar amount from your taxable income as per prior UFA contractual agreement. The LODI days are not calculated by TPR codes. It is not based upon a pure calendar year, but rather by the closest available payroll period. This year's W-2 reflects LODI dates December 15, 2002 through December 13, 2003. Upcoming Department Orders should contain a full explanation re the W-2 and inquiry directions. Inquiries must be directed to Data Base Administration on a LODI Reconciliation Form, c/o BHS - 2nd floor, 9 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201-3857. Use the FDNY forms provided by your unit. Check the Dept Order on W-2s each year for the proper pay dates to use in verifying LODI.

The curent figures (Click HERE to view chart) were provided by FDNY Payroll. It includes annual base, longevity, night shift & holiday pay, divided by 365 days, which is the standard formula used to determine your per diem deduction for LODI medical leave. Payroll has informed the UFA that per diem does not factor in retro earnings paid in 2003. The UFA has requested, and is awaiting, additional information from Payroll on this issue. Utilize the pay chart (Click HERE to view chart) to estimate if the proper deductions were taken by Payroll on your W-2 statement. If not, file the appropriate LODI Reconciliation Form as noted above. Normally there is no need to file the Supporting Statement. However, the Statement form, Local Law #78 and other info are available for duplication in the Delegate Manual Section White-4 if needed to verify your LODI time.

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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: Philadelphia, PA FF Derrick Harvey--FFs Jimmy Andruzzi L-3, Dennis Durnin L-3, Kevin Nigey E-4, Vinnie DiForte L-15 attended. Worcester, MA Lt. Richard W. Halvorsen--FFs from E-152 and E-154 attended. West Bridgewater, MA FF Charles T. Hatch--FFs Frank Stonitsch E-266, Jerry Ferrin E-266, Joe Durkin E-268, and Mike Nicoletti L-137 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.

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UFA Calendar Correction
Please make the following hand corrections: Firehouse Phone Numbers Typo; L-15 is with E-4, not E-5. Friday, July 30: change group #15 to group #25. Sunday, November 7: change group # 15 to group #25. All other group numbers on these days are correct. Please insure you correct these dates prior to making any plans.

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Ski Races at Hunter Mountain
Tuesday, February 10th at 9:00 A.M. Over 1,000 NYC Firefighters race down a giant slalom course in teams of five while wearing helmets, turn-out gear and hose in hand to raise money for the NY Firefighter’s Burn Center Foundation. Sponsored in part by Budweiser, Morning Pride, The Aspen Club, Scott, Trilax, W.L. Gore and Hunter Mountain. Trophies will be awarded for 1st - 5th places. Prizes by lottery. For info on this 31st annual event visit www.huntermtn.com or call Joe Jove at (845) 638-4778.

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Fundraiser for the Arce-Boyle (E33) Memorial Fund
The Second Annual Fundraiser will held on Saturday, February 7, 2004 from 4pm - 7pm. Cost $40. Includes beer, wine, food & shirt. PD O'Hurley's Bar & Grill, 174 W 72 St (off B'way), NYC 212-873-1900. All proceeds go to the Arce-Boyle Memorial Fund. For info call Mary Hanrahan 212-337-8649.

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Third Annual Iron Skillet Cook Off
September Space's Cook Off is scheduled for October 4, 2004. September Space is a community center and support network for volunteers, rescue and relief workers and those impacted by the attack on the World Trade Center. In this event firefighters compete against top restaurant chefs. The Bravest won last year! Looking for one chef (and preps) from each borough to test culinary abilities against the best chefs in the City. Past restaurants have included Azalea, Blue Water Grill, Bouley, Capsouto, Freres, Coast, Esca, TriBeCa Grill, and Wallse. This is a first class event! The deadline to register is April 30, 2004. For more info call 212-563-7570 or log on to www.septemberspace.org/cookoff.

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FDNY Baseball Team
Is looking for new players for the 2004 season. For info visit their website at www.nyfiredup.com.

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FDNY Bravest Kickboxing Club
Meeting every Tuesday, 2:30pm at Five Points Muay Thai. Gym fee is $10. Instruction is free. Open to all FF's and officers that present valid FDNY ID card. All levels invited, no experience necessary. Training supervised by senior instructor FF Eric Torres of L34. Five Points Fitness, 444 Broadway, Manhattan (1 block North of Canal St.). 212-226-4474.