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Events, Help, Fundraisers & Benefits:
"Reopen the Firehouses" Airplane Banners & PR Events!
The UFA and UFOA launched a 4-day campaign to reopen the firehouses over Labor Day Weekend. An airplane carried the message on Saturday and Sunday. The Labor Day Monday flight was rained out. The message was viewed by various beaches from theHamptonsall the way toStaten Islandas follows:
“REOPEN THE FIREHOUSES! DIAL 311â€
On Tuesday, Sept 2nd, the UFA also held rallies and news conferences at:
- Engine 204 in Cobble Hill,Brooklyn
- Engine 261 inLong IslandCity,Queens
- Engine 36 inEast Harlem,Manhattan
Thanks to all members and civilians who showed up supporting the campaign to reopen all six firehouses! Involuntary FF Transfers Delayed
The day after the August 28 UFA- FDNY Labor Management meeting, the Dept agreed not to lift any of the 20 FFs from their assigned companies as was scheduled for Sept. 2. The Dept did not properly notify the UFA as per our new 2000 - 2002 contract agreement, which now requires a 14 day notice to the UFA. Officially, no action can take place prior to Sept 12th. Be assured that the UFA will be going to court to stop the Dept from going forward lifting any of these FFs -- now or in the future. The UFA will keep you posted. Back To Top
UFARebuttal Letter to NY Times Editor
June 28, 2003 reprint of letter sent to the editor of New York Times by UFA President Steve Cassidy:
Dear Editor,
Regretfully, in your story (Biggest Users of Sick Leave Face Transfer in Fire Department 8/28/03), the reporter failed to pick up on the key point - all of these firefighters were injured in the line of duty. This is not "sick leave" as the article and its headline inaccurately portray - it is about the Fire Department penalizing firefighters for medical injuries suffered in the line of duty. What is most galling is that each of the 20 was actually put on FDNY medical leave by Fire Department personnel and your reporter failed to include that pertinent fact in the story. Also since my quote was "tweaked" or altered to fit the predetermined angle of your story, it seems the only excuse is sloppy reporting.
No one would condone abuse of medical leave and, in actuality, the FDNY medical leave percentages are decreasing, as many of firefighters permanently disabled due to 9/11-related sicknesses and injuries have been forced into retirement recently. We have said all along that medical leave percentages would decrease as the thousands of firefighters with 9/11-related injuries were forced to retire and eventually dropped from the annualized average used to compute that calculation. In many of the cases, it is the FDNY's own negligence for failing to provide proper breathing apparatus at ground zero for weeks after the attacks that led to firefighters getting so sick, severely injured and, in some cases, permanently disabled with career-ending injuries.
It seems that in this particular case, the department is improperly punishing firefighters who have been placed on medical leave with legitimate injuries that have been confirmed by the Fire Department itself. I fear that the department's actions may result in a corrosive psyche on the job. It's regrettable that the department seems to be sending a message that getting injured while risking your life in the process of protecting the citizens ofNew Yorkmay result in a transfer, embarrassment or other penalty.
That is the wrong message to send to firefighters and will not serve the citizens of New York. This story seems to be a demonstration of that new mindset. The article is clearly inaccurate, misleading and should have had a double byline of the NY Times writer and also the FDNY's Deputy Commissioner for Public Information. Back To Top
Proposed Constitution Amendments!
Please see your Company Delegate and their 65-2 clipboard in your FH for the complete list of proposed UFA Constitution Amendments.
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Your Role in Effective Political Action
Politically active unions are most effective in getting elected officials to support their issues. The most important way to support candidates is to have a pool of available members help them in their election campaigns. Political and legislative accomplishments benefit all firefighters, and the efforts must be shared by all. The Executive Board is asking each Company Delegate to assign members on a rotating basis by keeping a company roster check-off list for assigning members to political events when theUFAneeds bodies. You can go by seniority or any other method your company chooses. The important thing is that when theUFAasks your company for a member, you can provide it--and for the next event provide someone else. It is unfair that the same guys step up all the time. This will insure we have the number of bodies we need for any given event and will also prevent unnecessary appearances. For example, quite often we only need 20 or 30 members. Putting out a 65-2 request is not practical for every event of this type, but if we ask 20 companies to provide a member each time, you will be asked to appear fewer times and at the same time insure a more productive turn-out. The latest political events are noted on 65-2 #50 which was faxed and emailed on 8/25. We are working to put an FDNY member into City Council by having each company provide a member for phone banks and poll watching. Help change your futures as firefighters! Back To Top
Help Us to Help You!!! Fill Out the Survey ASAP!
Give us the ammo! In order to improve firehouse conditions, training, equipment, management and the overall health and safety of our membership, concrete data is required in order to detail the inadequacies in the FDNY. The early results from the survey that have been returned are providing powerful data that will help us address the issues that affect FFs daily. However, it is absolutely necessary to have a higher return rate in order to validate the survey results--which by academic standards will allow the info to withstand the most detailed of scrutiny. Yes, it will take a little over an hour of your valuable time to fill out. TheUFAis asking each and every member of selected companies to step up, play your part and follow through. The UFA can only accomplish what you empower us to do. It's your future. Do the right thing, please! Back To Top
Were You Denied OT for 5th Grade Medical?
Currently the Dept is not paying members for attending mandatory 5th grade medicals. TheUFAis pursuing a grievance through arbitration in order to correct this. Any member who was denied OT that was requested on his/her TPR is requested to fax this info to theUFAat 212-683-4359 ASAP, attn: Joe Miccio, Recording Secretary. This info is extremely important to help us win the case. Back To Top
CFR-D Compensation for Ladders
The UFA is currently arbitrating against the Dept that Ladder Company FFs who are CFR-D certified should be paid the CFR-D differential when responding onEMSruns involvingEMScarry downs,EMSforced entry and difficulty breathing/asthma runs. The Dept’s position is that Truck members should not be compensated. TheUFArequires documentation of these runs and would appreciate members faxing the ticket for such runs to the Recording Secretary’s office at 212-683-4359. Since time is of the essence, please forward any tickets ASAP. Back To Top
Advocates for a 9-11 Fallen Heroes Memorial
The purpose is “to ensure that the bravery and sacrifice of the 9-11 Fallen Heroes (FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and all other uniformed rescue workers killed on 9-11 at the WTC) are properly recorded on the Ground Zero Memorial, and their names listed together, by department, including their rank, unit and badge number.†Participate by 1) signing the attached petition (make multiple copies before using it--see instructions on back of petition), and 2) calling the Governor’s office once a week at either 518-474-8390 or 212-681-4580 and use the above message. Any Qs? Call Lt. John Finucane (ret.) 845-548-4234; Lt, John McCaffrey L31, 914-776-5737; or FF Patrick McCarvill E92, 914-237-1075. Back To Top
Member's Family Needs Help!
The wife of FF Kevin P. McCarthy (Big House E328 E264 L134) was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), for which there is currently no cure. PKD is the most common life threatening genetic disease. PKD is an inherited disease passed from one generation to the next. Each child born to this parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. FF McCarthy has 3 children. Ultimately, the diseased kidneys shut down, causing end stage renal disease for which dialysis and transplantation are the only options to prolonged life. A walk is being held to raise research funds for PKD on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Blydenburgh Park in Suffolk County. Register online at pkdcure.org, or on the morning of the event ($20/adult $10/kids). Contributions can also be made to PKD Foundation/Greater New York Chapter,15 Cranbrook Drive, Centerport, NY 11721. It is a 501 (C) (3) charity. All donations are tax deductible. Back To Top
FDNY Hockey Team Tryouts
Try-outs for the FDNY Hockey Team will be held Thurs., September 18th & 25th, and every Thursday in October, from11:00 am-1:00 pm at Freeport Recreation Center. For more info, contact Billy Kammerer, 516-897-0449. Back To Top
FDNY Soccer Club Practice and Tryouts
The FDNY Soccer Club is currently holding practices and tryouts for the Fall season. The club competes weekly in the Long Island Men's Soccer League as well as in various tournaments throughout the year including the World Police and Fire Games. If you are an experienced player who wishes to come out for the team, or if you just want to come down and support the club please contact them. More info at 917-929-8654 or via email at FDNYSoccer@aol.com or go to the Web at www.fdnysoccer.com. Back To Top
Fraternally, Stephen J. Cassidy
President
Joseph A. Miccio
Recording Secretary,
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