|
Events, Help, Fundraisers & Benefits:
Tentative UFA Contract:
The Delegate vote will occur on December 8th. In accordance with the UFA Constitution: - a copy of Frequently Asked Questions and Memorandum of Understanding with Side Letters (constituting the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement), will be mailed to each member's home by Tuesday, December 13th.
- ballots will mail to each member's home on Monday, December 19th, counted by the American Arbitration Association on Thursday, December 29th and the results announced that afternoon.
Back To Top
Firefighter Critically Injured in Unsafe Rig
Critical injuries occurred to FF Joseph Moore, who was ejected from an outdated and unsafe rig while responding to a fire. FF Moore remains in critical but stable condition at NY Presbyterian Cornel Hospital. UFA President Steve Cassidy responded immediately after the incident in the press, TV and radio. Putting old and unsafe rigs and safety equipment on the streets endangers the lives of firefighters and civilians alike. The UFA has called for independent investigations into what occurred and why. See the press releases below. Back To Top
WTC Notice of Participation Affidavit
Eligible members should have received by now the World Trade Center Notice of Participation Affidavit at their residences. If you should develop a disease that is covered under this bill, this affidavit will insure you are protected. A communication from UFA Vice President/Legislative Chairman Jim Slevin to assist you with this affidavit will soon be published. Please insure you review this communication prior to returning the affidavit, which must be filled out, notarized and returned (preferably certified return receipt) to the Dept no later than June 13, 2007. Make a copy for your record before returning it. Jim Slevin also explained the affidavit and answered questions at the 11/10 Union Meeting. The form can be downloaded from the UFA Website: www.UFANYC.org. Back To Top
Engine 75/Ladder 33 Involuntary Lifts
As previously announced, the UFA defeated the City's effort to stop our grievance from going forward challenging the involuntary detailing of 10 firefighters from E75/L33 in the Bronx. The next hearing date is scheduled for January 6th. The UFA maintains that the removal of Firefighters who had nothing to do with the incident was a violation of their due process rights, as the transfers created a negative stigma and were disciplinary and punitive in nature. Back To Top
Medical Leave Lifts
The Department cancelled the January 23rd Medical Lift Grievance hearing. We are working to reschedule a hearing on the soonest available date. UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio will be mailing an update letter to each member who has been lifted. The UFA will also be calling many witnesses to testify, including firefighters, their officers, staff personnel from HQ, including the Fire Commissioner. The UFA will not back down in its efforts to defend our members' rights. Affected members may contact Joe Miccio at the UFA at 212-683-4832 if you have any questions. Back To Top
UFA Parking Placards: Only from Your Delegate!!!
Borough Trustees distribute 2006 UFA Parking Placards only to Delegates. The ONLY way to get a Placard is through your Company Delegate€”as the Placard Permit numbers have been accounted for that way. €˜Detailed' members must contact their permanent assignment's Company Delegate. Battalion Aides should contact the Company Delegate in their house. Delegates must contact their Borough Trustee if additional placards are needed. MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT DELEGATES SHOULD NOT CONTACT THE UFA FOR PLACARDS. Delegates should return their company roster with each member's placard permit # listed to the UFA Recording Secretary's office at 212-683-4359 (or 212-683-0710 if busy), or by mail with the envelope enclosed with the placards. If a placard is lost or stolen, insure the member files a complaint report with PD. This is required before being issued a replacement. Any use by unauthorized persons can now be traced back to the original member it was issued to€”for firehouse and/or law enforcement verification. Please insure Special Placard 65-2 #101 is posted in your firehouse.
Back To Top
Scholarship Fund Awards
Scholarship Fund Director Ed Burke and the Scholarship Fund Committee are happy to report that the majority of the $500 scholarships were mailed in late November. The remainder are pending and awaiting documentation of valid school enrollment from the scholarship recipients. Back To Top
UFA Dental Plan Transfer Period
Dental Transfer Period for active and retired members is October 17th through December 30th, and become effective on January 1, 2006. Members interested in changing dental plans should request an application by calling or writing the UFA SBF office. UFA SBF Booklet, which explains your dental coverage options, is in your Company's Delegate Manual. This booklet was also distributed to all Delegates at the 11/10 Union Meeting. Back To Top
City Health/Medical Plan Transfer Period Closed
The transfer period for active Firefighters closed on November 18, 2005. Late changes will not be accepted by the City. All active member changes will become effective the first day of the first full payroll period in January 2006. Back To Top
UFA Drug Coverage via Mail Order
PharmaCare, the UFA's pharmaceutical benefits manager, recently sent a mail-service pharmacy info package and form to each member's residence. A 90-day supply of your medication can now be delivered right to your home--in most cases, saving you money. The package also includes a discount coupon for you to receive up to $15 off your first co-payment on your first order. The package is self explanatory.
Medicare Part D Notice Mailed to all Members' Families
The UFA SBF mailed an informational communication to each member's home regarding the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, which becomes available January 1, 2006 for people with Medicare. The mailing also includes a member information form to be filled out and returned by all active and retired members. This will enable you to receive combined coverage from both your SBF plan and your spouse's health plans under the Coordination of Benefits program guidelines, yielding greater financial savings than using only one spouse's health coverage plan. Back To Top
9/11 Heroes Stamp Act Assistance Program
Filing is now open for claimants eligible for the 9/11 Heroes Stamp Act Assistance Program. This U.S. Post Office program has raised more than $10.5 million for the families of firefighters who were killed in the line of duty, as well as those members who have been permanently injured in connection with their duties on or after 9/11. Filing must be completed before April 3, 2006. For questions or information on the application process, members are encouraged please call 1-800-887-9017, or log on to www.usfa.fema.gov/heroesstamp/. From here, you find a link to download an application form.
Back To Top
For Immediate Release: December 3, 2005
Statement from Steve Cassidy UFA President on Injured Firefighter
Several months ago the UFA brought to the Fire Department and the public's attention a severe problem with the city's procurement process to replace aging fire trucks. This failure by the department was requiring older and in some cases unsafe rigs to be kept in service. At the time WCBS-TV reporter Marcia Kramer conducted a multi-part investigative series highlighting this crisis and the dangers it could potentially create. As reported, the problem of an aging FDNY fleet were being compounded by the department's purchase of new fire vehicles that have not worked properly and were declared unfit to be put onto the streets of New York.
These unresolved management issues took a turn for the worse on Friday night, when a firefighter almost lost his life responding to a Manhattan fire as he was ejected from an unsafe and almost 20-year old fire truck. How can it be that in a city with an annual budget of over $55 billion dollars that the lives of firefighters and the citizens we are sworn to protect depends on apparatus built in the 1980's when Ed Koch was Mayor?
It is clear that the city's procurement process is broken and taxpayers should be furious with the caliber of equipment the Fire Department is forcing its firefighters to operate with. Putting old and unsafe rigs and safety equipment on the streets endangers the lives of firefighters and civilians alike.
The lack of corrective action by the Fire Department has and continues to place firefighters and the public we serve in danger. The UFA will be conducting its own investigation into the circumstances of this tragedy in an effort to insure that firefighter and the public safety are not unnecessarily jeopardized.
###
For Immediate Release: December 5, 2005
Steve Cassidy, UFA President, calls for outside investigation into
the specifications and selection of spare apparatus by the New York City Fire Department.
In order to ascertain how an incident, such as what happened to Firefighter Joseph Moore on December 2nd was able to take place, we are calling for an outside investigation into the specifications and selection of spare apparatus by the New York City Fire Department.
It is blatantly obvious that the use of outdated and unsafe equipment as spare vehicles is a common practice for the FDNY, jeopardizing both firefighter and public safety, and must be stopped. An investigation into what, if any, regulations are followed when assigning spare apparatus needs to take place as soon as possible.
We feel that the FDNY is incapable of handling such an investigation objectively and fear that if they are involved in the investigative process, the truth behind these unsafe practices and procedures will fail to come to light.
### Fraternally, Stephen J. Cassidy
President
Joseph A. Miccio
Recording Secretary
 |
