IAFF 293

Line of Duty Death Scranton

Download:

LODD scranton.pdf

2012 PPFFA Scholarship Applications are available

The 2012 PPFFA - Bob Zeigler Scholarship applications are available for download from www.ppffa.org please log in to access the form.

Thanks,

Dave

PA Supreme Court rules in favor of Erie Fire Fighters Pension

Today the PA Supreme Court reversed the PA Commonwealth Court and effectively put an end to a 5 year battle over our Partial Lump Sum Distribution Option (PLSDO or reverse DROP).

Download:

Supreme Court Erie PLSDO majority opinion.pdf

Join us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002252833718

President's page

The President posted an article concerning judicial elections and PAC contributions

Proud to Wear Pink

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month Local 293 is Proud to Wear Pink. We are selling t-shirts as a fundraiser; they are bright pink with white writing.The shirts are available at the Firefighters FCU located at 3204 Maple St and the American Cancer Society at 2115 West 38th St. The cost is $12 each. For mail orders, mail check or money orders to Erie Firefighters at P.O. Box 3576 Erie Pa 16508. Shipping fees will be $7 extra for the first shirt and $3 for each additional shirt.

Line of Duty Death Williamsport Local 736

It is with heavy hearts that Williamsport Firefighters, IAFF Local 736, announces the Line of Duty Death of Platoon Chief Jeffery A. Cole. Chief Cole passed away at home October 7, 2011 at 23:30 hours after a brief but courageous battle with job-related cancer. Chief Cole was born January 7, 1959 and was 52 years old.

For Viewing and Funeral information, please vivit the Local's website at www.williamsportfirefighters.com. Information will be posted as it comes available.

NY City Motorcycle Ride 911

There are some photos in the photo gallery of the 911 ride into NY City, The NY State Police said the line of bikes on the highway was 22 miles long.

WTC Steel

Erie was recently granted an artifact from the World Trade Center Towers that will be a central piece in a Memorial. This artifact will be on display during Celebrate Erie from the evening of Thursday August 18 through the close of the festival on Sunday August 20. Please stop by and check this out, it will be located near the Federal Building.

Firefighter Cancer Presumption Bill Enacted

Cancer Bill Enacted:

Brothers and Sisters:

I am very pleased to report that after almost 25 years Pennsylvania’s Fire Fighters have Cancer Presumption legislation. House Bill 797, sponsored by Representative Frank Farry was signed by Governor Corbett today.

This momentous piece of legislation will now afford our brothers and sisters much needed protection if they are stricken with one of several different types of cancer as a result of their exposure(s) on the job.

The PPFFA has made cancer presumption it’s number one priority for the past several years.

In the meantime I want to thank all those who helped in this effort. IAFF General President Schaitberger, DVP Taylor and Rich Duffy, officers, staff and members of the PPFFA, members of both the House of Representatives and Senate who never waivered in their support of Pennsylvania’s fire fighters. A special tip of the hat to Representative Frank Farry, Representative Kevin Murphy, Representative Stephen Barrar Senator John Gordner, Senator Dominic Pileggi, Senator Christine Tartaglione, Senator David Argall and their staffs. I would also be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute, who were also instrumental in getting this through. Without the help, guidance and perseverance of these folks we would not be here today.

The PPFFA pledged to get this done and I am proud to say “mission accomplished.”

More information will follow shortly on this important piece of legislation.

HB 797 which provides cancer presumption language to protect firefighters had passed the House of Representatives recently and had been placed in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Last evening (Sunday) the Senate Appropriations Committee passed this Bill to the go before the full Senate, with a vote scheduled for today. The Senate unamimously passed the Bill and now it will be placed before Governor Corbett for him to sign into law.

BOOT DAY TOTALS

This year the Local 293 members and retirees collected $19,711 in annual fill the boot drive. Thanks to MDA coordinator/ FF Pastewka and all those who volunteered their time to make this years drive such a success.

Firefighter Cancer Presumption Bills

The 2011-2012 Legislative session has seen both the House and Senate introducing nearly indentical Cancer Presumption Bills HB 797 and SB 654 respectively. Senate Bill SB 654 has passed the Senate unamimously and has moved to the House. The HB 797 was passed in committee and will continue to move forward. The most recent updates are posted here, as will any further updates.

Cancer Presumption Passes First Step in the Pennsylvania House Unanimously

House Bill 797, the Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption Bill, introduced by Representative Frank Farry has been forwarded unanimously from the House Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committee. The PPFFA will continue to work on behalf of our members to move this legislation onto the Governor’s desk. The PPFFA was successful at keeping amendments off the legislation that may have jeopardized the coalition built with the municipal groups that in the past had opposed this legislation.

Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption Passes First Hurdle

The PPFFA is proud to announce that Senate Bill 654, the fire fighter cancer presumption bill, passed by a 50 – 0 vote out of the Pennsylvania Senate on April 12. This legislation was fast tracked by Senate leadership after the disappointing veto by former Governor Ed Rendell last year. “To put the time line in perspective, HB 1231 was introduced on April 6, 2009. This legislation has already passed one chamber of the legislature and we are confident it will continue to move quickly” said President Art Martynuska. He went on to say, “This legislation is much farther along than it was last session and we look forward to soon having the protections our members need soon.”

The PPFFA will continue to press the House of Representatives to act quickly on this issue. We will keep updating this site as developments happen.

SB 654 Cancer Presumption Update

Cancer Presumption Bill Moves Forward in the Senate

Senate Bill 654 introduced by Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) was voted unanimously out of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee on April 6, 2011. Labor committee Chairman John Gordner (R-Columbia) first stated that the stakeholders of the bill, the League of Cities, Township Associations, Boroughs Associations and Insurance Interests worked with the member Fire Services groups to make minor changes to the legislation vetoed by Governor Rendell to put forth legislation that all can agree on. Minority Chairwoman Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) thanked all involved for working together and found it satisfying that this legislation has the cooperation and support of everyone. Senator Gordner then went on to thank his staff particularly Todd Rupp and Josh Funk for their hard work. A statement that the PPFFA concurs with. We are now in the twenty first year of this fight for Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption and we are confident it will be the law of the Commonwealth soon.

Art Martynuska

HB 797 Cancer Presumption Bill Update

On March 30, 2011 the House Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a non-voting, informational meeting on HB 797, the fire fighter cancer presumption bill. The meeting was well attended by many of the members of the committee and served to place all the stakeholders of the bill on the record. The PPFFA testified to the need for the legislation and was aided by expert testimony by the IAFF’s Rich Duffy, Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine.

Also testifying were The Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, The Pennsylvania Association of Township Commissioners, the Delaware Valley Municipal Management Association. These organizations last year opposed the legislation and provided the political cover for Governor Rendell to veto the legislation. Through negotiations and minor language changes, these organizations testified their support for this version of the bill.

The Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania also testified and is neutral. They did make some recommendations to language changes, but these changes do not seem to have any support on the committee.

The only group testifying against its passage was the Keystone Municipal Insurance Trust. This group provides the Workers Compensation Insurance for 84 municipalities and their argument was very weak at best. Rep. Frank Farry during questioning was able to get them to admit the bill was very fair to municipalities compared to the original version sought last session.

In the coming weeks, the Veteran Affairs committee will meet and vote this legislation out of committee and on to the full House for consideration. The PPFFA will post updates as this legislation moves forward.

Formalized positions on our Pensions and Act 111

Guys,

The following items were published by the Chamber of Commerce and the League of Cities. These papers lay out an agenda to strip firefighters of our current Defined Benefit Pensions and our Act 111 rights to collectively bargain. Along with a press release by Governor-elect Corbett pledging to sign into Law any Right to Work legislation that makes it to his desk. We have our work cut out for us. Please read the attached files. Dave

Pennsylvanians for Right to Work, Inc.: Governor-Elect Corbett on Right to Work Bill: “If it comes to my desk, I will sign it!”

Text of Jan. 10 press release.

Harrisburg, PA – As dozens of new state lawmakers were sworn in Tuesday, Pennsylvanians for Right to Work Executive Director, Julian Stolz, caught up with Republican Governor-Elect Tom Corbett. Corbett had been a bit coy on his Right to Work position to this point. On this occasion, however, the new Governor made his position clear. “If it comes to my desk, I will sign it,” Corbett stated.

“Our members are truly proud to have a Governor who will finally support meaningful, pro-liberty, Right to Work legislation,” said Pennsylvanians for Right to Work President, Susan Staub.

Contact: Julian Stolz, 610-360-6465

Download:

Chamber Of Commerce White Paper.pdf,

League of Cities Report (2).pdf,

League of Cities Core Crisis Letter.pdf

EFD EMS Scaled Back

The attached letters were sent to City Council, the Mayor and the Fire Chief today.

Download:

Letter to Council RE EMS w Chiefs Order.pdf

HB 1231 Vetoed

On Saturday November 27, 2010 Governor Ed Rendell was true to his word and vetoed HB 1231 the Firefighter Cancer Presumption Bill despite overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation. I have attached his rationale along with the letters he received requesting a veto for your information and education. I have also posted a piece on the President's Page. Dave

Download:

HB 1231 Veto and Opposition Letters.pdf

New Jersey looks to gut Binding Arbitration

This is why we need to stay and get stronger.

Assembly bill would bind arbitrators in effort to keep tax hikes in check

By Adrienne Lu

Inquirer Trenton Bureau

TRENTON - Ask a New Jersey mayor what he or she needs most to keep property-tax increases in check and chances are you'll hear about changing the salary-arbitration process for police and firefighters.

"For the past three decades, no other single driver has had a greater impact" than binding arbitration, Bill Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, said at an Assembly committee hearing Thursday.

The Assembly is scheduled to vote Monday on a Democratic proposal to overhaul the process, which determines compensation when contract negotiations reach an impasse. The state Legislature in 1977 gave police and firefighters, who by law are forbidden to strike, the right to go to arbitration.

New Jersey's law enforcement officers are among the highest-paid in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is not unusual for officers in North Jersey to make six-figure salaries after seven years on the job, though salaries in South Jersey are often lower.

The Christie administration says the Democratic proposal, supported by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D., Essex) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester), does not go far enough. The bill cleared the committee level in the Assembly on Thursday, with lawmakers voting along party lines.

Christie has called for a hard 2 percent cap on increases to all public employee economic compensation, including benefits such as health insurance. The governor argues that towns will need the cap, among other changes, to adhere to a 2 percent cap on property-tax increases that takes effect Jan. 1.

"Gov. Christie continues to maintain that a hard cap on arbitration awards, as he proposed in May, is the only real way to control costs for municipalities and provide real property-tax relief for New Jersey taxpayers," said Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak. The bill "falls far short of those goals."

Some have argued that with health insurance costs increasing by double-digit percentages each year, salaries would have to be cut to meet the 2 percent cap on total compensation increases.

The Democratic proposal, sponsored by Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald (D., Camden), would require arbitrators to choose the employer's last offer or the union's, but would put no limit on the wage increase.

Under current law, arbitrators arrive at salary and benefit increases by taking elements of either side's final offers or creating awards from scratch.

"This legislation will go a long way toward controlling and constraining property taxes by turning the arbitration process upside down and finally forcing the focus to be on the fairness to taxpayers," Greenwald said.

But New Jersey previously tried the "final offer" approach and found that arbitrators routinely favored the unions, prompting the Legislature to change the rules in 1996.

Greenwald's bill also would change the way arbitrators are chosen, require them to consider the 2 percent cap on property-tax increases in making their awards, shorten the time frame in which they make decisions, and create a new appeals procedure, among other changes.

Mayors and other local officials argue that the current system is broken, with arbitrators routinely awarding salary increases that exceed inflation and gobble up a disproportionate chunk of municipal resources.

Since 2005, the average salary increase of all police and firefighter arbitration awards has ranged from 2.43 percent in the first six months of 2010 to 3.96 percent, according to the Public Employment Relations Commission.

Those figures do not take into account "step" increases, significant raises given to police and firefighters in the early years of their careers and "longevity" bonuses when an employee reaches a tenure milestone. They also do not reflect pensions, health insurance, or other forms of compensation.

Counting those and other benefits, the real cost of labor increases is much higher, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlan Jr. (R., Monmouth) said Thursday at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing on the Democratic bill.

"If you're going to have a 6 percent increase in labor cost with a 2 percent [tax] cap, we are headed for disaster," O'Scanlan said.

"The system absolutely is broken, without question," he added. "No one can show me math that suggests the current system works."

Police and firefighters' unions argue the opposite, pointing out that with an average of only 15 or 16 arbitration awards over the past several years, it does not make sense to blame arbitration for the state's property-tax problem.

"The problem is not arbitration," said Dominick Marino, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey. "The problem is that Trenton is starving cities and towns by taking back promised aid."

Local officials say that they avoid going to arbitration because they believe the results will favor the unions and because the process is expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars, or more. They argue that arbitrators pay too much attention to what neighboring municipalities have awarded unions and not enough to how much the town can afford.

In Cherry Hill, nearly half of the budget goes to public safety, including pensions and health care, said spokesman Dan Keashen.

In fiscal 2010, Keashen said, the township spent $14.6 million on salaries for its 127 uniformed police officers, compared with $6.2 million in salaries for its 167 nonpolice employees.

"It's a tremendous burden on the budget of the township," Mayor Bernie Platt said. "The sooner they get rid of binding arbitration, or explain to the arbitrators they can't make these awards, or have some guidelines for them, it will benefit us."

For additional comments check the President's Page of this website.

Endorsed candidates can be found on the Fire PAC Page.

Dave

Firefighter Cancer Presumption

The Firefighter cancer presumption bill was passed by the House of Representatives last year and was in the Senate Labor and Industry Committee. The Labor and Industry Committee, the PPFFA and the Fire and Emergency Institute worked together to find compromise amendements that satisfied all the parties. Last week the L & I Committee passed the bill, yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee passed it and it was put before the Senate for a vote. This afternoon, the Senate passed the bill 45-4.

HB 1231 must now return to the House for a vote of concurrence on the Senate amendments, once that is accomplished it will need to signed by the Governor.

For a copy of HB 1231 please go to the Legislation page. Dave

Brothers and Sisters:

The Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption Bill (HB 1231) passed the Pennsylvania Senate yesterday by a vote of 45 to 4. It now goes back to the State House for concurrence. The bill has been placed on the House calendar for November 8. If the House concurs then the bill goes to the Governor for his signature.

The road to where we are has taken 25 years. This is the closest that we have ever been.

The work that you all have done has been outstanding and I have never be prouder of any group.

Our adversaries on the legislation have been putting out a lot of disinformation about the bill.

They are trying to scare local elected officials into speaking out negatively about the legislation.

We have seen things in print that say the legislation covers all cancers, when in reality it is a select list of cancers that affect fire fighters.

We have also seen that the presumptive period is for lifetime. In reality it covers for 300 weeks and then another 300 with a different presumptive level.

Additionally, the opponents to the legislation are telling folks that the presumption in non-rebuttable, when in actuality it is rebuttable just like any other workers compensation claim.

The PPFFA has worked diligently with both the House of Representatives and the Senate to craft language that addressed all concerns with the bill.

To have these opposing groups come out against the bill after they had every chance to be at the table is wrong.

The compromises contained in the bill addressed all of the concerns, now there are more concerns? I don’t think so.

The legislation is what it is, it’s in black and white, to try and pull off an eleventh hour coup by fabricating and distorting information goes beyond politics. Now we’re playing with fire fighter’s lives.

If you’re speaking with your local elected officials and they have concerns or questions about the information they may have received I would be more than happy to speak to them directly on the issue.

Our position is not propaganda it’s fact, not the fiction our opponents are peddling.

What do we need now?

We need you to contact your state house representatives today and ask them to vote in favor of concurrence when the bill comes up in the house.

Please get the word out to your membership and have them, their families and friends reach out to their state representatives.

We can see the light at the end of the 25 year tunnel.

Let’s keep the momentum going that we have generated.

If you have any questions contact me.

Again, thanks for all of your efforts.

Art Martynuska

President

Pennsylvania Professional

Fire Fighters Association

Pension Ordinances added to Downloads page

Fire Communications Subcontracting Grievance Denied

The Fire Communications grievance concerning the potential violation of our Subcontracting Clause of the CBA has been denied by the grievance arbitrator. The decision is attached. ~Dave

Download:

Fire Comm Award July 2010.pdf

Retiree Healthcare Contribution Decision

We recently won the Retiree Healthcare Contribution grievance that was Arbitrated in March. As a result any firefighters retiring will not have a deduction from their pension check to pay for healthcare. The decision is attached. ~Dave.

Download:

Retiree Healthcare Contribution Award.pdf

NIST report on Residential Fireground Field Experiments

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued a comprehensive report on crew size effects on fireground efficiency. This is available in the Downloads page. Dave

Ratification Vote Results

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the membership has ratified the agreement between Erie Fire Fighters Local 293 and the City of Erie with 64 voting in favor and 19 voting against.

The results are posted on the Online Voting page.

Telemarket Fundraising

I have received calls concerning telemarketing companies trying to solicit funds for various reasons. The PA Professional Fire Fighters contracts with Xentel and will, from time to time, solicit in this area. These people indentify themselves as Xentel employees calling on behalf of the PPFFA. Local 293 does not telemarket.

I cannot speak for any other fundraising companies that may call. Dave

No Station Closing

Local 293 and Mayor Sinnott agreed today to a compromise to the Arbitrator's staffing provisions issued in the 2009 Interest Arbitration Award.

We have agreed that:

The use of the "dual companies" will cease.

There will be 1 dedicated tower company staffed with 5 firefighters and will respond with 5 firefighters.

There will be 5 engines staffed with 5 firefighters and will respond with 4 firefighters.

If the City were to close a company, the remaining companies will be manned with 5 firefighters and respond with 5 firefighters.

The legal battles concerning this Interest Arbitration Award will cease and the above language will be enterd into the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As of this time, we have no word as to whether Central Station or South Central Station will be the tower company.

Court Ordered Staffing

Court of Common Pleas upheld staffing decision. Full decision in members resources downloads.

Random Drug Testing

Fallen Firefighter update in the What's new section

Arbitration Award Decision

The City of Erie filed 2 exceptions to the Act 111 Interest Arbitration Award. The case went before the Erie County Common Pleas Court and a mixed decision was issued.

The Court ruled in favor of the City on the PLSDO (Reverse DROP) provision and in favor of Local 293 on the Staffing provision.

"This is a very good as apparatus manning has a direct relationship to the safety of firefighters." IAFF Local 293 President Dave Chiaramonte was quoted as saying.

This ruling is available in the Downloads page of the website.

Retirees' Page

The Retirees' Page is now available without Login.

Sometimes Technology Is Not the Answer

A disturbing trend has emerged as many American cities have consolidated their dispatching and communications functions and invested in new technologies. Namely, the primary understanding of the role of communications in the fire service is being diminished and, in some cities, lost. Several key factors are involved: persons not knowledgeable about fire department needs making decisions about fire department communications systems; new technology that doesn’t put the customer (the fire department) first; and fire department leadership that does not stand up for the needs of the department, firefighters, and dispatchers

http://www.fireengineering.com/display_article/361523/25/none/none/Depar/Sometimes-Technology-Is-Not-the-Answer

Attention!!!
December 12, 2008..............Erie Fire Fighters Local 293 and the Erie Fire Department are NOT engaged in telephone solicitations. If you have been solicited and have concerns, please contact the Erie Police Department at (814) 870-1120

DROP ruling

The Commonwealth Court has ruled against the PLRB concerning the PLSDO (reverse DROP). The Court ruled that the City was correct in the ability to rescind the City Ordinances that provided our PLSDO. This is not the current PLSDO that was awarded to us by the arbitration panel. It is my understanding that the City is challenging this provision. Check back for updates.

PLSDO Hearing

When City Council "rescinded" the PLSDO ordinances, we filed an Unfair Labor Practice suit with the PA Labor Relations Board, had a hearing before a hearing examiner and won.

The City appealed the hearing examiner's ruling to the PLRB and we had a second hearing before the 3 member panel and again won.

The City has appealed this decision to the Commonwealth and the hearing date has been set for October 14th.

First Alert Injury Reporting Program

The First Alert Injury Reporting Program is a statewide initiative to protect the health and safety of all Firefighters and Paramedics. This is a totally confidential, no cost reporting system that has been established "To protect Firefighters and Paramedics and to collect and organize information on health, safety and occupational disease Read More...

You Get What You Give

Lately, it seems like more people are complaining about their taxes than ever before. Why is that? Are taxes really too high? Do you pay too much for taxes Read More...