• Past President Reports

1. Delegate Seminar Concludes
On behalf of the entire UFA Executive Board I'd like to personally thank each and every Delegate and Alternate who sacrificed their valuable time and made the effort to participate this week. It is our objective that the comprehensive training received while here will be of great assistance when helping your members and their families regarding the many issues they face on a regular basis. The agenda and course titles are also posted on the UFA website. Besides time you spend at our Educational Seminar, we realize you invest considerable time throughout the year in order to educate yourself on issues of importance to your members. We'd like to once again thank you for all you do and the leadership role you take. It does make a difference!

2. Lobby Day in Albany June 12th
Firefighters once again will be traveling to Albany in support of various UFA Bills. All members will be receiving a legislative packet at home in the coming weeks. They will also receive a form that they are asked to fax back to the UFA regarding their participation in Lobby Day. Delegates should be compiling a list of those members that will be attending. Busses will be arranged for all members who will be participating. It is essential that we once again have a large turnout to help advance the UFA legislative agenda.

3. UFA Contract Ballot Mailing
Ballots were mailed to each member's residence by American Arbitration Association (AAA) on Monday, April 30, and must be returned to the AAA by 9am on Thursday May 10. Military members serving active duty may vote via the internet in accordance with the UFA Constitution and the above time requirements. Any member who has not received a ballot yet must call the AAA directly at (800)529-5218, M-F 9am to 5pm. Give your correct residence address and assigned unit (not your detail assignment). A new ballot will be placed in the mail on the same day you call. Ballots will be counted by the AAA on May 10 with oversight of the Election Committee, which is comprised of one member representing each boro and the Recording Secretary. The results will be announced on that same day upon ballot count completion.

4. Active Military Members May E-vote
Military members serving active duty any time between April 30 and May 10 may vote via the internet in accordance with the UFA Constitution and above time requirements. Any activated military member wishing to e-vote must insure your e-mail address on record at the UFA is accurate in order to receive an e-ballot. If not, immediately prepare an 'SBF Change of Address Form' noting your email address, sign it and mail to the UFA, Attn: Joe Miccio, Recording Secretary (or email your email address to RecordingSecretary@UFANYC.org. Forms can be obtained from your Delegate, or call the UFA SBF at 212-683-4723. Any Delegate with an activated military member assigned to his company is asked to reach out to the family to obtain an email address, if the member is using email while overseas. Provide this info to UFA Recording Secretary Joe Miccio. The information will be verified prior to emailing a ballot.

5. To Update Your Address with the UFA
To ensure your home address on record at the UFA is accurate, immediately prepare an 'SBF Change of Address Form' and mail to the UFA, Attn: SBF. Forms can be obtained from your Delegate, or call the UFA SBF at 212-683 4723. You can also download the SBF Change of Address form at our Web site: www.ufanyc.org. Addresses can be verified by checking the Company Roster supplied to your Delegate with the 2007 Parking Placards.

6. Retro $$ Pay Information and Expected Dates
If the contract is ratified, the Dept is expected to announce during the week of May 21st the dates for retroactive $$ pay and implementation of increased salary scales. The Dept normally pays retroactive back-pay due within 5 to 8 weeks after contract ratification, in two separate pay periods. The first retro check usually includes (besides your regular salary for that two week pay period), at a minimum, your base salary retro. The second retro check usually includes the remainder (OT & other differentials). Estimated retro $$ due should be based on what you were paid since August 1, 2006 subtracted from what you would have earned at the new rates if they had kicked in at that time. Each member's amount will differ.

7. UFA Fire Marshal Representative Election
The regularly scheduled FM Rep Election will take place between May 22 and June 6, in accordance with the UFA Constitution. The FM Nomination Meeting will take place at the UFA on May 8 at 11am. Only the Members who are placing the nominations and the Recording Secretary are required to attend. Ballots will mail from the American Arbitration (AAA) to all FMs on May 22, and will be counted on June 7th. Results will be announced that day.

8. Hire 27 More Fire Marshals & Open New Base
Fire Marshal Representative Lester Layne reports the following: UFA efforts have successfully garnered FDNY support in our efforts to expand the Fire Marshal Bureau. The mayor announced last week an increase in the FDNY budget of $1.4 million to hire 32 more fire marshals to investigate arson cases. The Dept also expects to open a brand new Queens Base.

9. WTC Notice of Participation Form Verification
The FDNY Pension Unit once again provided an updated roster for each Company Delegate yesterday. This list confirms for your company all members who have sent in the form, all that who been verified and those that the Dept has no record of receiving the form. Make sure this list gets posted in your company and all members on the list who have not submitted the form have been notified. Forms are due June 14, 2007. If you miss the deadline, you will not be covered! The UFA highly recommends mailing it certified return receipt. Check the UFA Website homepage for additional information and copies of the form. Questions? Call 718-999-7041 or 718-999-0148.

10. Department Ordered to Reconsider Pension for Firefighters
A Brooklyn judge has ordered the New York City Fire Department to reconsider its decision to deny accident disability pensions to two firefighters who participated in the rescue and recovery operation at the WTC after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jack M. Battaglia questioned how the State 1-B medical board of the department's pension fund could reject the findings of an FDNY medical officer committee that included the department's chief medical officer, Dr. Kerry J. Kelly. The FDNY committee found that the firefighters suffered from "clinical asthma" and were unfit for duty. The 1-B board concluded that the men had "mild intermittent asthma" and were not entitled to accident disability retirement. Justice Battaglia, writing in Marley v. Board of Trustees of the New York Fire Department Article 1-B Pension Fund, 5752/06, said the 1-B medical board's conclusion was "devoid of any articulated basis" and "purely conclusory." He said the determination was not fit for judicial review and ordered the board to make new findings.

11. FDNY To Expand Random Drug Testing To EMS
The Fire Department is set to launch a random drug testing program of EMS workers beginning May 7 for more than 3,000 EMTs, paramedics and EMS officers.

Stephen J. Cassidy,
President