February

UFOA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Febuary 10, 2005

President's Report

Table of Contents

Heroes Fund

The New York Post and the Uniformed Firefighters Association have joined together to establish the “HEROES FUND” to assist the families of all seven members who either made the supreme sacrifice or were critically injured in two separate fires in the Bronx and Brooklyn on January 23. Anyone who wishes to help can make a donation by sending his or her check to:

Heroes Fund
C/o Uniformed Firefighters Association
204 East 23 rd Street – 5 th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Attention: Sheila Petit

In accordance with IRS guidelines, this fund is not a tax-deductible fund. All monies received will go directly to the seven families of New York's Bravest.

The UFOA wants to thank the UFA and NY Post for establishing the fund for our members and their families.

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Personal Ropes

The Commissioner has made a public announcement that he will investigate the feasibility of acquiring personal ropes. The UFA and UFOA have been invited to participate in this process and we have accepted the Commissioner's invitation.

I want to point out to the membership that following the fatal fire in the Bronx that claimed the lives of Lt. Curtis Meyran and FF John Bellew, the UFOA had no intention of politicizing this tragedy. We were committed to the goal of securing personal ropes and harnesses to each member. However, we did hold a news conference on Sunday, January 30 th in order to respond to statements made in the media by former Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen. He made statements regarding the actions of our Chief Officers at the fatal fire in the Bronx. He also said there was no accountability at the FDNY and that of the FDNY Safety Division was not capable of conducting an investigation of these fatal fires.

This union will never permit anyone to attack our members without the facts to back it up. Von Essen knew nothing of the particulars of the Bronx fire and had no right to criticize our members. In fact when he was Commissioner, he used our Safety Command to conduct fatal fire investigations. He recalled the ropes for monetary reasons and we have the facts to prove it. This does not forgive the current administration for not addressing the rope issue, but we will work with the Department to get ropes to all members as soon as possible.

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Fatal Fire Investigation

Over the past two weeks the members of the UFOA Safety Committee have accompanied our members on interviews with the Safety Battalion regarding the fatal fires in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Any member who is called for an interview should call the UFOA office immediately. No member should be interviewed without UFOA representation.

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UFOA World Trade Center Survey

At the November 2004 General Membership Meeting, a motion was made and passed unanimously, instructing the UFOA to survey our membership for any illness or injury received at the WTC site. Symptoms and illnesses not considered line of duty were of particular concern to the membership but may still be related to WTC exposure.

The UFOA sent out 3,283 surveys and had 1,934 (59%) returned to date. We are continuing to compile the results and need you to return your survey. If you did not receive your survey or misplaced it, please call John Cavanaugh at the UFOA office for a duplicate.

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Reduced Staffing

Due to the sick leave percentage dropping under 7.5%, the City has reinstated the fifth man on 49 engines raising the total number from 11 to 60.

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Holiday Pay

There seems to be an ongoing problem for the Department to interpret the Holiday Pay policy for members who are detailed off the line. All members are paid for eleven (11) recognized holidays. If you are detailed off the line, you are only required to work 32 hours in any week when a recognized holiday is observed. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday and holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed on the following Monday.

If any fire officer is required to work 40 hours on a holiday, that time must be paid at time and a half for Company Officers and time and a half comp. time for Chief Officers. There are no exceptions to this policy. If you have any problem getting approval for this time, call the UFOA immediately. The following is a list of the eleven (11) paid holidays:

New Year's Day (Jan.1)
Lincoln's Birthday (Feb. 12)
Washington's Birthday (3 rd Mon. Feb.)
Memorial Day (last Mon. May)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (1 st Mon. Sept.)

Columbus Day (2 nd Mon. Oct.)
Election Day (Tues. after 1 st Mon. Nov.)
Veteran's Day (Nov. 11)
Thanksgiving Day (4 th Thus. Nov.)
Christmas Day (Dec.25)

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Apparatus Response

On Department Order #79, paragraph 2.8 dated November 18, 2004, the Department changed Department Policy and is now allowing apparatus drivers to proceed through red lights and stop signs without coming to a complete stop. Please read the Department Order carefully because in the new regulations the Department is clear that they will still hold you accountable for accidents and may consider not representing you if they determine your firefighter was reckless in driving or you failed to supervise.

The UFOA has strongly objected to this policy change. We believe this policy is reckless and only serves to endanger public and firefighter safety. NFPA guidelines require drivers of all fire apparatus to come to a complete stop before proceeding through red lights or stop signs while responding.

The Department has objected to the advice we gave our members to comply with NFPA guidelines. We continue to advise all officers to require your chauffeurs to comply with NFPA guidelines and come to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs before proceeding through an intersection while responding to alarms. We again checked with our legal counsel and are assured that we are well within our rights to advise our members to comply with NFPA guidelines as it relates to responding to fires and emergencies.

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Educational Requirements for Promotion

In the last President's Report, we asked any member who had already paid a fee in order to get FDNY PONSI credits certified by a college for BC Exam # 3505, to call the UFOA office and speak to a Chiefs' Representative; Arthur Parrinello, Nick Visconti or Jack McDonnell. Also, after the telephone notification, we asked that you send us all documentation of your expenses, including bills, cancelled checks, credit card receipts, etc. To date, only nine (9) members have responded. Our legal action is in regard to the last BC exam. If you paid to have FDNY PONSI credits confirmed by a college or university for that exam, notify a Chiefs' Representative, ASAP.

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UFOA/WWII Veterans

The UFOA and MBA Corps, a private firm, are undertaking a project to capture the memories of UFOA members who are also WWII vets, “The Bravest Generation. An Oral History of WWII by NYC Fire Officers.” We would like to have at least 25 UFOA members participate by having their thoughts and experiences recorded on videotape to be used to teach future generations. It would require approximately one (1) hour of the participant's time. For further information, please call MBA Corps at 212-633-2971 or go to the UFOA website www.ufoa.org .

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Bravest Scholarship Fund

The Fund is now able to accept donations by credit card. To make a credit card donation, please visit our website, www.ufoa.org and click on the DONATE button. To donate by check, please make checks payable to the UFOA Bravest Scholarship Fund and mail to UFOA, 225 Broadway, Suite 401, New York, NY 10007 Attn: Scholarships.

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Tsunami Relief

To ensure that our assistance is put to good use, we are joining the IAFF in supporting the nationwide effort led by former Presidents George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton through the USA Freedom Corps ( www.usafreedomcorps.gov ) to help those affected by the tsunami disaster. The IAFF has researched and identified the following charities as superbly qualified to deliver the assistance provided by IAFF affiliates, members and their families:

Operation USA
8320 Melrose Avenue #200
Los Angeles, CA 90060
www.opusa.org
100% of all donations go to the relief effort

Christian Children's Fund
Child Alert Fund
PO Box 26484
Richmond, Virginia 23261-6484
800-776-6767
www.ChristianChildrensFund.org

 

The UFOA is collecting donations from our members to make a special presentation to each organization from the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. At this time, these organizations are requesting that all donations be monetary. They are also unable to utilize volunteers either in the US or abroad.

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Legislative Report

For the second year in a row, the World Trade Center presumptive bill for disabilities that may occur in the future failed to become law. Governor Pataki took no action on the bill that had passed both houses of the Legislature overwhelmingly, and his Pocket Veto killed the bill.

Mayor Bloomberg once again strongly opposed the bill. Last year he told the Governor the legislation would cost $256 million, but after the unions agreed to make some changes for 2004, the Mayor lowered his cost estimate to $52 million.

The unions had learned in December that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had given New York City $1 billion on December 3, to set up an insurance fund for construction companies and their employees that cleaned up the World Trade Center site. The insurance policy specifically excluded uniformed employees of the city, and Mayor Bloomberg still refused to support legislation that would protect city employees who worked at rescue and recovery.

We have already met with the leadership in Albany to begin the process of reintroducing our bill without substantial changes to the language.

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1127 Federal Litigation

In a separate but related matter, this past month the New York State Court of Appeals rendered a decision in a case brought before the Court by the NYPD Captains' Endowment Association on behalf of the Police Surgeons claiming that income earned outside their New York City employment should not be subject to 1127 tax. The Court upheld a lower court which ruled in favor of the City's position that they were within their rights to tax this income. The City filed papers with Judge Jones using this case to support their position. Our attorney has responded to the City's papers. We are now waiting for the ruling by Judge Jones.

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Dominick LaForgia Fund Raiser

FF Dominick LaForgia's 13 year old son, Dominick, Jr. has been battling cancer for the past several years. Some of his treatments will need to be done out of state and there are expenses not covered by insurance. The members of E241/L109 are hosting a fundraiser for the family. A $40.00 donation at the door includes a buffet lunch, bottled beer, wine and soda.

LiGreci's Staaten
Forest Avenue
Staten Island, NY
Thursday, March 10 th
2:00-6:00pm

 

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FDNY vs. NYPD Basketball

Friday, February 25, 2005 @ 7:30pm. St. Francis DeSales 129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway, Queens. Donation: $10 for adults, Children are free. Donation includes free soda, hot dog and a can of beer.

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St. Patrick's Day Parade

The UFA and UFOA attended a meeting with Chief Hayden, Chief Cassano, the Emerald Society, the FDNY Pipes & Drums and representatives of the Parade Committee.

The Parade Committee has requested that the FDNY contingent be uniform in their appearance and march in an orderly military fashion. We are providing the following information and suggestions to all our members in order to honor our Department, our members and our sense of pride.

  1. Members should march from the start of the parade at 44 th Street to the end. Do not join the parade late or attempt to leave the formation early.
  2. The Department will provide additional officers to assist the Ceremonial Unit at 44 th Street and at 68 th Street. Please cooperate with them.
  3. There will be a banner for each Division including SOC and EMS. All members should march with their assigned Division, including retirees. (In proper uniform only!)
  4. Visiting firefighters in proper uniform should march behind the IAFF banner, which will follow the last Division banner. Firefighters from other Departments should not march with the FDNY.
  5. Proper uniform means just that, Class A only , no green hair, flowers or baby carriages. Children should not march with uniformed members.
  6. There will be a Green Beret Platoon that will march behind Division 6. Only the original all green berets (started in E60/L17) will be permitted. No multi colored berets, please.
  7. Remember, we will march behind 343 American flags as a reminder of the sacrifices of our members on September 11, 2001, but more importantly, we march to honor every member who made the supreme sacrifice. Pride and honor come from within, we can't look to those who criticize us if we do not honor our own and conduct ourselves with pride. Be a role model.

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Overtime Average
as of January 15, 2005

Lieutenant Hours Captain Hours
SOC 210 SOC 220
Div 1 187 Div 1 220
Div 3 141 Div 3 210
Div 6 231 Div 6 273
Div 7 173 Div 7 221
Div 8 316 Div 8 352
Div 11 240 Div 11 259
Div 13 167 Div 13 181
Div 14 158 Div 14 172
Div 15 92 Div 15 247
AVERAGE 192 AVERAGE 236

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Uniform Vacancy Report
  (Effective January 19, 2005)

   
Last # reached
Lieutenant
18
634
SFM
05
016
Captain
0
247
Battalion Chief
04
014
Deputy Chief
01
DAC
01
  
AC
00
  
Asst. Ch. FM
00
  
Chief Fire Marshal
00
  

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Legal Proceedings

Oral argument on the motion for summary judgment to dismiss the action was adjourned from January 28 and is being rescheduled.

Administrative Proceedings

Battalion and Division Commander IP

We await the City's response to our proposed stipulation of facts.

Administrative Fire Marshals - No Change

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