September |
UFOA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
September 9, 2004
President's Report
- President's Report
- 1127 Federal Litigation
- Presidential Endorsement
- Labor Management Committee
- World Trade Center Exposure
- Random Drug Testing
- Ladder Co. 39
- Health Insurance
- World Trade Center Health Registry
- Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance
- September 11 Ceremony
- College Fair
- Overtime Average
- Uniformed Vacancy Report
- Legal Proceedings
- Miscellaneous
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Our guest speakers this evening will be Chief of Dept. Peter Hayden discussing current discipline issues within the Dept. and Dr. Kerry Kelly, Chief Medical Officer updating the members on the long term health risks and issues following the WTC.
According to the UFOA Constitution and By-Laws, elections were held for Executive Board positions at our reorganization meeting held on Tuesday, September 1 st . The results of the election were as follows:
President Captain Peter L. Gorman Vice President Lieutenant Stephen J. Carbone Treasurer Deputy Chief Arthur J. Parrinello Recording Secretary Battalion Chief John J. McDonnell
Financial Secretary Lieutenant James J. Mc Gowan Sergeant-at-Arms Captain Michael C. Currid Chiefs' Representative Deputy Chief Nicholas J. Visconti Captains' Representative Captain John B. Dunne Lieutenants' Representative Lieutenant John E. Ginty Terms of office will end on August 31, 2005.
On August 20 th our attorney was informed that our motion for summary judgment was denied and our complaint has been dismissed. There will be a meeting on September 14 th with all the involved unions and our attorney, David Singer, to review the decision and to discuss the possibility of appeal. We are extremely disappointed with the Court's decision and knew going in that it would be a tough case but we also knew how unfair the application of this tax is for our members. We will report back to the membership as soon as we have more information.
The UFOA endorsed Senator John Kerry, by a vote of 9-0 at an Executive Board Meeting in January 2004. We respect the autonomy of the UFA to endorse the candidate of their choice. We stand by our endorsement and stand proudly with the International Association of Firefighters and the AFL-CIO.
Volunteers Needed -Primary Day- September 14, 2004!
The UFOA has been asked by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to go all out for Steve Kaufman for State Senate in the Bronx and South Westchester. Senator Bruno is a powerful player in Albany and we've promised him our support in this race that is important to him. Please make every effort to show up Tuesday at the Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx.
The Uniformed Fire Officers Association needs political action Volunteers at the following locations beginning at 9:00 am:
Stephen Kaufman - State Senate - Democratic, Republican and Conservative primaries:
Villa Barone Manor
737 Throgs Neck Exwy
Bronx
Board Members: Jack Ginty and Mike CurridCaesar Trunzo – State Senate – Republican Primary:
39 Third Avenue
Bayshore
Board Member: Jack McDonnellDiane Savino – State Senate – Democratic Primary:
1140 Bay Street
Staten Island
Board Member: John DunnePlease see one of the Board Members tonight or call the UFOA office at 212-293-9300, to volunteer.
The next Labor Management Committee meeting, originally scheduled for September 1, 2004, has been re-scheduled for September 16, 2004. The previous two meetings were cancelled at the request of the Department. The agenda for this meeting includes:
-Eliminating the delay in supplying drinking water to quarters that have or may have contaminated drinking water.
-Various MXT restriction policies that applied collectively are extremely limiting to our members.
-The necessity/legality of providing, the specific information, required by the Computer Hardware Survey.
-The policy regarding response to EMS incidents in a unit's 2 nd due response area.
-Special event memos, which contain incomplete information/instructions, to field units.
-The excessive number of Compensatory Time denials for Chief Officers and the need for the Department to address this critical safety issue.
-A request that the Department provide a written explanation of a Comp.Time denial to the Chief Officer involved.
-An up-date regarding the status of specialized training for Company Officers.
-The need for the Department to acknowledge the receipt and review of reports/recommendations/suggestions submitted by Chief and Company Officers.
-The use of PONSI credits for promotional examinations.
-Discuss the restoration of a Company Commanders authority to administer / control personnel and company policy in a positive manner.
Over the last few months the UFOA and the UFA have held several meetings and press conferences regarding WTC exposure. Some objectives at our meetings were to assess the past, present and future health issues of our members, assess what information needs to be obtained and or discovered, to discuss and form a plan of action to get more information for our members. The first step was to secure federal funding for a program to monitor and evaluate both active and retired members who were exposed to conditions at the WTC site. Senator Hillary Clinton was instrumental in obtaining a $90 million dollar grant, $25 million of which will be solely dedicated to the FDNY. This grant money will go towards a program to screen active and retired members of the FDNY for a five-year period as well as thousands of private sector workers. The WTC Medical Monitoring Program has also been formed. There are five clinical centers: Mount Sinai, Rutgers, Stonybrook, Queens College and the Bureau of Health Services. A Steering Committee also has been formed which encompasses several physicians from all of the five clinical centers, this committee also has representatives from the AFL/CIO, DC37, Building Trades, Communication Workers, EMS, PD, UFA, UFOA and NIOSH. The WTC Steering Committee has had several meetings to formulate the testing, how people will be tested, what types of tests will be appropriate and how often people should be tested and where testing should be done. As of today participants will be screened for; Upper and Lower Airway, Mental Health, Late Emergent Diseases, GERD, Rhinositus and Skin Diseases. Testing should, hopefully, commence in October or November. As stated, monitoring will last for five years. On September 12, 2004, 12:00-5:30 pm, there will be a seminar on WTC Exposure, at the Rosenthal Pavilion in the Kimmel Center at New York University. All are invited to attend.
The Department implemented the Random Drug Testing Policy effective August 1, 2004. (Please see D.O. #61.) The UFOA has been advised that the Department will introduce familiarization training regarding this policy at the First Line Supervisors Training Program and the Captains' Development Course. We want to once again inform the membership that if you have a substance abuse problem you must seek treatment. If you do come forward, there are many treatment options available to you. You will not face disciplinary charges if you come forward for treatment but you must seek help immediately. You will not have this option available to you once you have been selected for random testing. Please call the UFOA office and speak to one of your trustees if you have any questions. If you test positive for the use of any illegal drug, you face immediate termination.
There have been rumors circulating that Ladder 39 was slated to be closed. Deputy Fire Commissioner Milton Fischberger has made assurances, that not only will Ladder 39 not be closed, but that the department will proceed with repairs beginning this fall.
The fall transfer period for active employees is October 15 th to November 15 th . All active members will receive a notice with their paychecks telling them either:
• Go to the City website (information is on the notice) to learn about the different health plans; or
• Advising them to call the unions Family Protection Plan to get a booklet or CD.
World Trade Center Health Registry
Has extended the registration closing date until October 31, 2004. We encourage our members to enroll. For further information call, 1-866-692-9827 or www.wtcregistry.org .
Will be hosting a fundraiser for “The Wall” two hours before the FDNY vs. NYPD Baseball Game on September 18, 2004, 4-6pm, at Peggy O'Neil's @ Keyspan Park.
Plymouth Fire Fighters (MA) will be hosting a ceremony honoring those who died 9/11/01. The ceremony will consist of a parade of Fire Department Honor Guards, Veteran's Groups, Massachusetts State Police and other locals, along with the Boston Fire Department Gaelic Brigade. There will be a somber wreath laying and flag raising service. For further information, contact Captain Kevin Murphy, Local 1768, 781-706-7668, ktmurph@adelphia.net .
All active and retired FDNY members and their families are invited to attend the 2004 FDNY College Fair on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, 10:00am-1:00pm at Fort Totten/Bldg 325 (Across from the Quartermaster). Specific information may be found in Department Orders or by contacting Ms. MaryElizabeth Rohan, College Advisor, at (718) 281-8454, or e-mail at rohanm@fdny.nyc.gov .
Overtime Average
as of June 19, 2004
Lieutenant Hours Captain Hours SOC 212 SOC 225 Div 1 241 Div 1 178 Div 3 169 Div 3 196 Div 6 209 Div 6 265 Div 7 135 Div 7 149 Div 8 273 Div 8 274 Div 11 255 Div 11 276 Div 13 164 Div 13 200 Div 14 176 Div 14 143 Div 15 98 Div 15 160 AVERAGE 174 AVERAGE 207
Uniform Vacancy Report
(Effective September 8,2004)
Lieutenant SFM Captain Battalion Chief Deputy Chief DAC AC Asst. Ch. FM Chief Fire Marshal VSF- A motion for summary judgment to dismiss the action is pending in the U.S. Southern District Court, returnable before the Court on October 1, 2004. All our papers have been filed.
Battalion Commander IP - We have asked OCB to render a decision on the actions of the prior administration, removing the perquisites of the Battalion and Division Commander positions and then ordering members to serve in the positions. A conference before OCB is scheduled for October 20, 2004.
PONSI-FDNY Courses - The City has unilaterally changed the procedure for acceptance of PONSI –evaluated FDNY courses in satisfaction of the education requirement for promotion on the recent Battalion Chief's exam. We are demanding that the City rescind the changes in procedure and comply with all other respects with the Board's previous decision.
Administrative Fire Marshals - Settlement discussions continue.
A class action has been commenced in which claimants including Fire Officers who rendered services at the WTC site, post 9/11, claim they were misled by federal environmental officials as to the condition and safety of the air and environment at the site. This case is at the initial stages.
In addition, it appears that a number of attorneys are also bringing actions for specific claimants, claiming injuries caused by the environment at the site and the failure of various agencies to give adequate or proper notice or to provide protection and safeguards to those working at the site.
Because participation in these cases depends upon individuals determining that they have or anticipate that they will have incurred personal injuries from working at the site, the UFOA cannot advise individuals which case, if any, may best suit their circumstances. The UFOA will monitor the class action, which covers all of our members who worked at the site, but cases brought by individual attorneys will only be monitored as developments occur in those cases. We will report periodically as to these developments.
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