1. Next Union Meeting at Delegate Education Seminar
The May Union Meeting is scheduled to take place on the last day of the Delegate Education Seminar, in Atlantic City, on Friday, May 14. This date is noted on the UFA Workchart calendar.

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2. Fire Marshal Rep Lester Layne Promoted
UFA Fire Marshal Representative Lester Layne, whose term was scheduled to expire on May 1, was promoted to Supervising Fire Marshal on March 25. The UFA thanks Lester for his service and we wish him the best in his new position. Steve Cassidy has appointed Fire Marshal Representative elect Rob McDevitt to the position for the interim. Rob's term begins on May first.

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3. LODI / CD-72 Classes at Delegate Education Seminar
The UFA will be conducting special classes this May during the Delegate Education Seminar to better prepare Company Delegates to properly guide their members. The Department's Line- of-Duty Injury Report (CD-72) is one of the most important documents that is closely scrutinized during the disability pension application approval process. The same is true regarding the Department's Exposure Report (CD-73). Accurate and timely preparation of these reports is paramount to ensure you and your families' financial security are protected if your career is suddenly cut short due to an injury or exposure that occurs during the course of your duties. NOTE: Safety Bulletin 7 is the Department's policy for Line- of-Duty Injury/Exposure reporting.

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4. Baseless Claims Rebuked by Scientific Proof
Published in NY Post, 4/4/10, by Steve Cassidy
Two opinion columns, "9/11 Junk Science" (March 24) and "The Plural of 'Junk Science' Is Still Junk" (March 31), make baseless claims that there is no credible evidence that 9/11 rescue workers suffered detrimental health effects following 9/11. The editorials fail to mention members of the FDNY, many of whom have since died, fallen ill or been forced to abandon their careers as a result of their toxic exposure. Scientific pro of is published in the New England Journal of Medicine, documenting that NYC firefighters lost an average of 12 years' lung capacity from inhaling the toxic stew. To dismiss the supreme sacrifice these patriots made effectuating the largest civilian evacuation on American soil as part of an "activist agenda" that "lacks credibility" is insulting to every New Yorker.

Excerpt from The Chief Leader, week of 4/16/10
The study (conducted by the FDNY and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine) reduces to ho-hum status an article published in Sunday's New York Post with the blaring headline "FDNY $oak-eaters" that made a big deal of the fact that 80 percent of the firefighters of all ranks who have retired so far this year did so on disability pensions that provide them with three-quarters of their final pay annually. The effects of the time spent at Ground Zero made it inevitable that there would be an increase in disability pensions in the department, since every member of the firefighting force spent at least a month there. Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy raised a more-sobering concern following the publication of the study in the prestigious medical journal: that lurking further down the road are cancers that will emerge as the result of the damage done to lungs and other parts of the body exposed to the Trade Center toxins.

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5. Firehouse Closings & City Budget
It has been reported that the FDNY is preparing to close at least 20 companies effective the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. The Mayor also announced the City will be forced to close many more companies if the State budget, which was due April 1 and is now late, does not allocate sufficient funds for the City. The City anticipates it will receive less revenue from the State than previously expected. Until the State budget is resolved, it is difficult to estimate how large the City budget deficit may be. The UFA has met with various elected officials to discuss strategy to minimize cuts to FDNY operations and attended the recent Fire Department Budget Hearing at City Hall. The UFA will work with the City Council, support the affected communities (a 45 day notice is required by the City before closings take place) and run an aggressive ad campaign that informs the public how they will be affected by firehouse closings. Steve Cassidy updated all Delegates present at the April Union Meeting.

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6. Attack on Government Pensions
As reported in the March 26 issue of The Chief:
"We're in a fiscal situation that was based on the inability of investment bankers and other financial experts to properly manage risk," NY State AFL-CIO President Dennis Hughes said in a March 18 phone interview. "But the people who are responsible for this economic downturn walk away unscathed. And the only real tangible effect is the assault on the economic security of working men and women. To go after the pensions of people who in many cases have risked their lives and are in high-stress public jobs is really outrageous."

Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy strongly concurred with that sentiment. "I don't have to make an excuse for the pension system we have - not at all," he said. "It is a backstop for the families of firefighters who are seriously injured or killed. I don't think a system that would have firefighters standing outside a burning building wondering whether their families will be taken care of if they're killed or seriously injured would serve the public's interest." He acknowledged concern, however, that a climate could develop in which the demand for reduced benefits placed intense pressure on the unions to resist. "I think there's clearly a movement afoot to try to take the fiscal crisis and use it to demonize public employees," he said.

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7. Bronx Rally to Save Firehouses
On March 30, UFA leaders and dozens of NYC Firefighters were joined outside E-70/L-53 quarters on City Island by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx/Queens), City Councilmembers James Vacca (D-Bronx) and Criminal Justice Committee Chair Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) to speak out against budget cut proposals made by Mayor Bloomberg, including closing at least 20 and as many as 60 fire companies. The UFA also held a press conference on March 10 on the steps of City Hall, immediately prior to the City Council's Fire Department Budget Hearing. See attached press releases and press clips. You can also review TV& press clips on the UFA Homepage.

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8. Portal to Portal for Annual Medical
In accordance with the UFA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Portal to Portal compensation is required for all on-duty members attending their Annual Medical Examination at Metrotech; 1 hour and 15 minutes each way (45 minutes each way if you are assigned to Brooklyn).

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9. House Sub-Committee Approves Zadroga Bill - More Hurdles Ahead
In March, a U.S. House of Representatives panel approved the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act by a vote of 25-8. Representative Carolyn Maloney said the $11 billion bill will next be brought up before the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. The UFA, along with NYS AFL-CIO President Dennis Hughes, met with the entire NYS Congressional Delegation in Washington, DC on February 25. This was a top priority at the IAFF legislative conference in Washington on March 14 through March 18. The IAFF is fully supportive of the UFA's efforts to pass the Zadroga Bill. Steve Cassidy updated all Delegates at the April Union Meeting.

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10. Weapons/Terrorism: FDNY Emergency Response Plan
The UFA met with the Department in March during Labor-Management to address its concerns regarding Department protocols for safety and operational considerations for response to active shootings, firearms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary devices, improvised explosive devices, or devices that may produce irritating or toxic effects. The Department agreed that certain aspects of these policies, including some of the newest policies, need to be (and will be) updated to more comprehensively address today's realities.

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11. CFR-D Re-Certification Lists Posted Promptly
At the UFA's request, the Department reviewed and addressed internal protocol and its communications with the State to insure the list of members who pass their CFR-D recertification exams is posted promptly on the FDNY intranet and in Department Orders. These changes now insure members who receive their certification card in the mail can immediately begin receiving TPR marks for performing CFR-D duties.

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At this point, it is unclear what will happen next. The attorneys for the parties will be meeting with the two Special Masters appointed by the Court to attempt to modify the settlement terms in a way that will be fair to the clients and all other parties involved. At this time, those individuals who are already party to the case need not do anything. The firm has scheduled several meetings to be held with their clients, who have been informed of the dates. At those meetings, the firm will give a detailed explanation of the proposed settlement, answer questions and try to clarify and resolve any confusion that may exist.

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• BCB 2623-07 IP - Supervisory referrals to Counseling by BITS
• BCB 2711-08 IP - Representation at Safety Interviews
• BCB 2820-09 IP - Excessive OT Cap
• BCB 2652-07 IP - Asbestos Abatement after Steampipe Explosion
• BCB 2668-07 IP - Expanded AFID Building Inspections (BISP)
• BCB 2820-09 IP - Chauffeur Selection
• BCB 2445-04 IP - Random Drug Testing
• BCB 2480-04 IP - Reasonable Suspicion Testing
• BCB 2480-05 IP - Union rep present at random selection & drug testing procedures of FMs
• BCB 2595-07 IP - Light Duty Schedules
• A-12703-08 - Drug raid at E 168
• A-13313-09 - BITS ordering FFs to give written statements regarding Dept. investigations
• A-10199-03 - Medical Leave Lifts

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