Welcome to the IAFF Frontline News Brief, distributed
twice a month to IAFF affiliate leaders and IAFF
members. We encourage you to forward this news to your
members and others in the fire service.
MDA gives special recognition and
credit to all the hard-working,
supportive and enthusiastic men and
women of the IAFF across the United
States and Canada for their
overwhelming support for MDA.
New Jersey Fire Fighters
Rally to Oppose Pension Cuts
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/12/06)
Almost 20,000 fire fighters, teachers and other New
Jersey public employees rallied in Trenton, New Jersey,
December 11 at the State House to demand that state
legislators reject a number of bills that would cut
pensions and health care benefits that have been
proposed to make up the funding gaps created when the
state decided to take a number of funding "holidays" in
the past. Union leaders representing fire fighters,
police officers, teachers and other public workers
pointed to the state legislature's long-term
mismanagement of finances which lawmakers are now trying
to reverse by reducing public employee pensions and
benefits. Speakers at the rally, sponsored by the New
Jersey Education Association, called for the state
legislature to "back off." "If we don't get them to do
what's right, then we're going to work next November to
replace them," said IAFF General President Harold
Schaitberger, who led the crowd in raucous chants of
"pay your fair share" aimed at the lawmakers.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Iraqi firefighters bear
the heat of terrorists' tactics
The Washington Times (12/06/06); Palmer, James
Baghdad 's 3,500 fire fighters face an increasingly
dangerous job as terrorist suicide bombings occur daily,
requiring them to rush to the scene of every explosion
to douse the flames and assist the injured. "This is
part of our job now," said Nazar Khani Mousa, 32, who
was working a bomb scene in central Baghdad last summer
when two more explosions knocked him unconscious. His
back, right hand and forearm were burned badly, while
shrapnel pierced his forehead. He was unable to walk for
three months. Today, he's back at work at the Karrada
firehouse, risking his life for the equivalent of less
than $90 a week. This year alone, at least 30 Baghdad
fire fighters have died in the line of duty and another
55 have been wounded. Others have been kidnapped by
criminal groups or militiamen, while still others find
themselves in the crossfire of insurgent groups, U.S.
and Iraqi security forces and warring militias. Most say
they are motivated to carry on by a sense of duty and a
need to support their families at a time when other jobs
are hard to find. "The people still count on us to do
our work. If we don't put out the fires, who will?"
asked Mahdi Muhsin, a 31-year-old veteran fire fighter
who has been on the job since he was a teenager. The
steady monthly salaries -- $350 for rookies and $600 for
seasoned officers -- are keeping the department staffed,
but many long for another way of life.
Philadelphia Local 22
Demands City Honor Contract
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/12/06)
More than 250 members of Philadelphia, PA Local 22 -
along with 150 other union members - rallied December 7
with a message for the City of Philadelphia to implement
their contracts and the Act 111 binding arbitration
award. "All we want is for the City to do the right
thing and honor our arbitration award," says Brian
McBride, president of Local 22. "For more than a year,
Local 22 fire fighters and paramedics have been working
without a labor contract. Throughout this period, the
City has taken step after step to avoid honoring the
contract."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Texas firefighters fix
hot home cookin'
Austin American-Statesman (11/30/06); Plohetski, Tony
Four years ago, Austin, TX Local 975 fire fighter Tim
LaFuente -- known among his fellow fire fighters as one
of the best cooks in the department -- has organized a
group of fire fighters to cook a holiday meal for
seniors. "I thought, 'Here are people in need, and if we
can do one thing a year to put a smile on their face,
how little is that for us, and how big is that for
them?' " LaFuente said. LaFuente received donations from
Local 975 fire fighters to help buy ingredients and
signed up several colleagues to help him cook meals of
ham, turkey, sweet potatoes and green bean casserole.
Since serving about 100 people in 2002, the event has
nearly tripled in size and has become the Austin Fire
Department's holiday gift to East Austin's older
residents. "It's really something special, and as long
as I can continue to do it, I'm going to continue," said
LaFuente, who grew up in Austin and dreamed of becoming
either a fire fighter or a chef.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Township may seek levy
for fire services
Toledo Free Press (12/13/06); Lee, Autumn
Sylvania , OH Local 2243 has launched an aggressive
"Keep Sylvania Safe" public education campaign to
prevent station closures and layoffs while the Sylvania
Township administration is preparing a compromise
proposal to resolve the projected $1.4 million deficit
in the fire department budget. The compromise budget
does not include closures for any Sylvania fire
stations, but would include a 1.5 mil levy to reduce
fire department staffing from 57 to 52. All stations
would remain open with a service adjustment eliminating
transport services. Since the Keep Safe campaign began,
it has garnered "a fairly good response," Local 2243
President Chris Nye said. Information is available at
www.keepsafesylvania.org about the Sylvania Fire
Department's performance and available services, along
with e-mail addresses for Sylvania Township and City of
Sylvania officials for citizens to use to express
concerns. The site also contains an online survey that
asks residents about their knowledge of services and if
they favor passing a smaller levy to support station
improvements and a modest levy to support a staffing
increase. Nye said people have been showing support for
a levy. The Board of Trustees will meet December 19 to
vote on a budget or continue to narrow the options.
Local 2243 fire fighters are not advocating an increase
in staffing, but want to maintain an operating staff of
57 and keep all four stations open. Nye said the fire
fighters' priority is ensuring the safety of the
community.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Godfrey Firefighters
Must Cover Tattoos
Telegraph (IL) (11/29/06); Moon, Jill
In a 2-1 vote November 27, the Godfrey (Illinois) Fire
Protection District Board of Trustees approved a new
grooming policy that forbids future fire fighters and
EMS personnel from displaying tattoos. The policy will
take effect immediately, retroactive to November 1. It
will not apply to current fire department personnel who
already have tattoos, unless they get new ones. Fire
fighters who do not comply with the new policy will face
disciplinary action through a grievance procedure. In
addition, families of non-compliant fire fighters who
die in the line of duty will not be eligible to collect
death benefits. The board's decision to implement the
new policy did not sit well with some, including Lt. Ed
McBride, president of Godfrey, IL Local 1692. "I think
it's a bull crap policy," McBride said. "Adding the
tattoo policy is nitpicking on something they shouldn't
be."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
A test of wills over
firefighter sick leave
Boston Globe (11/23/06); Paige, Connie
Newton, MA Local 863 fire fighters, who have worked
three years without a contract, now greet Mayor David
Cohen each morning with picket signs in protest of a
contract provision that allows the city to demand a
doctor's note if fire fighters stay home from work for
illness or a sick child or spouse. Furthermore, fire
fighters say the mayor is singling them out with this
rule. "How come he's discriminating against the fire
fighters?" asked Fran Capello, president of Local 863.
City officials say they began enforcing the provision
with fire fighters after the cost of overtime to cover
their shifts exceeded $1 million two years in a row.
Members of the city's other unions have demonstrated in
support of the fire fighters. Capello said fire fighters
have offered a compromise under which the city could
demand a note if a fire fighter has called in sick more
than three times in a year. Last April, Local 863 filed
for arbitration with the state's Joint Labor Management
Committee. Mediation has begun, and the committee will
decide whether the city and the union must face binding
arbitration.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Bills Helps Families of
Officers, Firefighters
Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News(12/04/06)
New Hampshire state lawmakers are considering
legislation that would give families of fire fighters
and police officers killed in the line of duty $100,000.
"Michael's Bill" is named after fallen Manchester police
officer Michael Briggs, who was killed last month.
"These are people who are committed to taking care of
the public," says state Senator Lou D'Allesandro, who
submitted the bill. "This bill says we care enough about
them to take care of their families when something
horrible happens." The payment would be
covered
by a term-life insurance policy, or by payments of
$100,000 from a restricted state account.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Ontario Municipalities
Fighting for Firefighters
Tillsonburg News (11/27/06); Burton, Amy
Municipalities throughout Ontario are asking the
province's government to take action to ascertain that
fire fighters and their relatives get just and rapid
compensation for ailments or disease that result from
workplace hazards. If approved, Bill 111 will provide
the benefit of the doubt to fire fighters who experience
heart ailments or cancers which have been caused by the
more than 70,000 poisonous substances they risk
breathing in. While the equipment employed by fire
fighters complies with National Fire Protection
Association protocols, it does not automatically shield
fire fighters from every carcinogen. The
legislation aims to broaden the list of presumptions for
these employees to include primary-location cancers of
the brain, bladder, colon, esophagus, kidney, lung,
stomach and uterus. In addition, the bill would list
degenerative neurological diseases and heart disease,
and leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A document by
the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association
stresses that all of these cancers are scientifically
shown to have a connection to possible toxins being
inhaled.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
First women promoted to
fire captain
Galveston Daily News (12/12/06); Aulds, TJ
The Texas City Fire Department made history when it
promoted Ganesa Warren and Kelly Rothrock to the rank of
captain. It's the first time in the department's history
that a woman -- let alone two women -- has held the
rank. Both entered the fire service little more than
five years ago. "I am pretty amazed still to know I made
it," Warren , who took the reins of the central fire
station's Platoon A, said. "I never really imagined it
would happen so fast." Under civil service laws, one
must first earn a promotion to engineer and then spend
at least two years before being eligible to take the
captain's test. Even then, a captain's position has to
be open first before anyone can qualify. Texas City Fire
Chief Gerald Grimm said a combination of natural
attrition within the department made for the "perfect
timing" for Warren and Rothrock to earn their captain's
bars in less than six years. What's more, Warren is just
25 years old. She started with the department at 19. She
said breaking through in a male-dominated profession has
been a hard but important journey. "They never told you
this part of things at the fire academy," she said.
California Fire Fighter
Seeks Bone Marrow Donor for Son
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/05/06)
San Francisco, CA Local 798 fire fighter O.J. Leonardo
needs to find a bone marrow match for his two-year-old
son, Harrison, who is fighting a rare form of cancer -
Acute Mylogenous Leukemia (AML). "We're calling on all
fire fighters, their friends and family to help us find
a match for Harrison," says John Hanley, president of
Local 798. "This is full court press. Doctors are not
sure how long he will survive without a transplant."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Fire fighter Jodie Howard and two other female fire
fighters have filed claims with the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission over the city of
Portsmouth, Virginia's refusal to grant city workers
light-duty assignments when they are pregnant or develop
certain other medical conditions. Fire fighters and
police officers are some of the city workers who do not
qualify for light duty. The fire fighters believe that
they are possibly being discriminated against, says
attorney Lisa Bertini. A committee has been formed by
the City Council to investigate the issue. Howard has
opted to stop working while she awaits the birth of her
baby, which is due March 3. Under Portsmouth policy, a
doctor determines if a city worker who develops a
medical condition outside the line of duty should stay
on duty. Tyrone Wisher, former president of Portsmouth,
VA Local 539, says he wants to see the implementation of
a light-duty policy for fire fighters.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Oversight board to fund
study of city Fire Bureau
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12/02/06); Lord, Rich
A state-picked fiscal oversight panel has voted to hire
the Virginia-based System Planning Corp.'s TriData
division to study the city of Pittsburgh 's Fire Bureau
and help implement changes for $193,000. The move was
called "absolutely wasteful" by Pittsburgh , PA Local 1
President Joe King. He is deeply skeptical of the need
for a new study, given that the Intergovernmental
Cooperation Authority has already spent $95,000 on a
review of the bureau's operations by Erase Enterprises
of Texas. "Erase did an objective and independent study
and they didn't say what the ICA wanted them to say,"
King said. "So we spend another $200,000 until we get a
consultant to say what they want?" The Erase study,
released nearly two years ago, recommended cuts in
staffing but also expensive investments in equipment and
new stations. The city's Fire Bureau has shrunk from a
$60 million operation in 2004 to an estimated $49
million next year. The city has the option of reopening
its contract with the union next year and seeking
further savings, but Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has not yet
said whether he will pursue that.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Don't Become an Injury
Statistic: Kettlebells to the Rescue
Firehouse.com (12/04/06); Grokaitis, Anthony
Worcester, MA Local 1009 fire lieutenant Anthony
Grokaitis says many fire fighters are not physically
prepared for the demands of fire fighting, which can
result in heart attacks and other deadly health
problems. Grokaitis provides some "old school" exercise
equipment to help combat this problem. He explains that
employing three Russian Kettlebells of different sizes
costs a lot less than the expensive exercise gadgets
seen on television and provides a complete gym. He
explains that the majority of exercises done with
kettlebells require complete body strength to do,
thereby reducing the lengthy, complicated body part
isolation instruction a regular gym workout entails.
Kettlebells focus on muscle integration instead of
muscle isolation, so the fire fighter's body gets
stronger as a whole, instead of in segments. Kettlebells
also allow ballistic movements so users can get a cardio
workout. In addition, Grokaitis notes, kettlebells can
give a user's back greater resistance to injury. Lastly,
he states, kettlebells can give fire fighters superior
hand strength, which is useful when handling heavy
equipment.
Bloomberg: No Medal for
Retired 9/11 Firefighters
WCBS-TV (New York) (11/26/06)
If New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has his way,
three retired New York fire fighters who were killed on
September 11, 2001, will not get Medals of Valor as
requested by their families. The mayor's office says a
proposed bill should be vetoed by the governor because
it breaks a 141-year-old fire department policy. The
policy grants awards only to active fire fighters killed
while on duty. The three fire fighters were working as
safety officers at the World Trade Center. Their
families are urging the Fire Department of New York to
recognize their efforts.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Are there enough?
The Columbus Dispatch (12/12/06); Hoholik, Suzanne and
Andes, Jodi
Seven of the Columbus, Ohio Fire Department's 22 ladder
trucks are under repair, leaving the city without
backups if another truck breaks down. If Columbus, OH
Local 67 fire fighters have another mechanical problem
with a fire ladder, it could lengthen how long it takes
to get those trucks to fires. "We have nothing to give
in case another ladder breaks down," said Jerry Mason,
assistant chief of the Columbus Fire Division. "We
continue to crawl along day by day hoping and praying
that nothing breaks," Mason said. Jack Reall, president
of Local 67, said there are two problems: The city isn't
buying enough trucks to replace older vehicles, and it
isn't earmarking enough money to fix the broken ones.
"It's a huge problem," he said. "If something breaks
down today, that means we're going to have one less fire
company out on the streets to protect our citizens." The
ladder trucks across the city are one to 16 years old. A
new one can cost close to $1 million. The city has two
new ladder trucks on order for a total of $1.7 million,
but they won't be delivered until July. Since 2002 and
projected through next year, the city will spend $26.2
million on new fire vehicles -- medical units, engines
and ladders.
Adapt Your Workout to
Reach Your Fitness Potential
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/08/06)
Too often, injured fire fighters return to work much too
soon, increasing their risk of re-injury. Orlando Gomez,
a member of Portland, OR Local 43 and a physical
therapist with 15 years of experience, shares his unique
perspective on the physical fitness needs and
requirements of fire fighters in this month's Fit to
Survive. A physical therapist at Athletic Development
and Performance Training (ADAPT) in Beaverton, Oregon,
Gomez says, "Traditional discharge criteria allow a fire
fighter to return to work at about 60-70 percent of
their potential fitness level. As a result, fire
fighters are often trying to do the job with residual
pain and compensation that can significantly increase
the risk of re-injury."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Council is divided on
city's firefighting needs
Quad City Times (12/06/06); Ickes, Barb
Bettendorf , Iowa aldermen are undecided on whether the
city needs more fire fighters, while Bettenforf, IA
Local 3190 fire fighters insist the fire department is
understaffed. Alderman Norm Voelliger is reserving
judgment until next year's budget cycle before deciding
whether Bettendorf 's combined department is adequate.
He added that the response to a devastating blaze in
November at a multimillion-dollar home was "as fast and
complete as any homeowner could expect." Meanwhile,
Alderman Debe Lamar vowed to make sure that fire
department staffing gets a good going-over when the
budget cycle begins in January and said she expects a
certain outcome. "I fully intend to have a huge
discussion about it at goal-setting," she said. "It's
going to be devastating to our budget, but we have to
work it out. "I feel very confident. You'll be seeing
more fire fighters in Bettendorf ."
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Judge Orders Hiring of
Minority Firefighters
Boston Globe (12/08/06); Mishra, Raja
A U.S. District Court has ruled that an unfair bias
exists in the hiring of minority fire fighters in
Massachusetts. U.S. District Court Judge Patti D. Saris
said a hiring exam administered by fire departments
throughout the state in 2002 and 2004 discriminated
against minority candidates and transgressed civil
rights law and a 30-year-old statute requiring
Massachusetts fire departments to integrate. In her
ruling, Saris wrote that the cognitive ability test
given to minority applicants in 2002 and 2004 had little
to do with the skills needed to fight fires, and ordered
fire departments around the state to hire 50 minority
candidates. She also ruled that candidates passed over
for fire fighting positions were eligible for
retroactive pay.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Memory of Fallen Fire
Fighter Helps Autistic Persons
International Association of Fire Fighters (11/03/06)
Jack Fanning was a member of the Uniformed Fire Officers
Association (UFOA) of New York Local 854 when he made
the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11. But, before he died, he
always talked about what he would do if he won the
lottery - pay off his bills and build a home for
autistic children. Today, part of his dream is becoming
a reality.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
FDNY to Get New CPR
Training
EMS Responder (11/28/06); Montefinise, Angela
All 14,500 fire fighters and EMS workers in the Fire
Department of New York must be trained in a new form of
CPR by January 1 as mandated by the state. The new CPR
method was suggested by the American Heart Association
to improve blood flow and patient survival by making the
heart respond better to shocks. The new procedure now
has more chest compressions and less automated
defibrillator shocks. Although some are skeptical about
the state's new requirements, the department insists
everyone will be trained by the deadline. The city's
defibrillators will also have to be updated to analyze a
patient's condition every two minutes.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Firefighters ponder
future after council vote
Middletown Journal (12/07/06); Richter, Ed
Middletown , OH Local 336 fire fighters are disappointed
that the City Council did not approve a temporary
appropriations budget for the Division of Fire. "I wish
I could say it shocked me," said Jon Harvey, president
of Local 336. "I'm pretty disappointed that they changed
their mind." At a November 21 meeting, Council made a
unanimous motion to approve an emergency ordinance to
set up a temporary appropriations budget for the fire
division's operations. However, with one Council seat
vacant, the remaining members voted 5-1 for the
temporary $2.11 million budget. Because it was an
emergency ordinance that would take effect immediately,
all six Council members had to approve it. One Council
member voted against the emergency ordinance because she
supported the voters' decision last month to reject a
proposed 0.75-percent income tax increase. Council is
expected to consider the same legislation at its
December 19 meeting when two new Council members are
appointed and sworn-in. "How things switched was
disappointing for us," Harvey said. "I hate to see a guy
looking at being laid off." He's confident Council will
approve a fire budget, but the latest action has him
concerned about how the issue will play early next year
when the city and union begin negotiating a contract.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Employee Free Choice Act
NOW
Political Affairs.net (12/12/06); Parks, James
Hundreds of union organizers and supporters attending
the AFL-CIO Organizing Summit marched in Washington, DC
, December 10 in support of the Employee Free Choice
Act. At the Capitol, union members were joined by a
broad spectrum of civil rights and labor leaders,
including IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
What made this rally different from others over the past
six years is that this time workers are in position to
really make a change in the direction of the country. In
less than a month, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and
Representative George Miller (D-CA), both champions of
workers' rights, will become chairs of the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and
the House Education and the Workforce Committee,
respectively, and will re-introduce the Employee Free
Choice Act to allow workers to join unions through
card-check and limit employers' ability to stop workers
from forming unions.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
Rockland slices $900K;
layoffs in offing; 'Free cash' used to fend off deeper
cuts
Patriot Ledger (12/06/06); Kelly, John P.
Twenty-four Rockland, Massachusetts departments had
their budgets slashed as residents dealt with a budget
shortfall by cutting spending and using part of a
reserve fund. Eighty percent of the nearly $900,000 in
spending cuts will be absorbed by Rockland 's three
largest departments -- schools, fire and police. The
spending cuts, while not as severe as the $1.7 million
worst-case-scenario officials had braced for, will
result in scaled-back services and at least some
layoffs. Rockland, MA Local 1602, faced with a 6 percent
cut to the fire department budget, threatened at the
meeting to bring a lawsuit against the town if it fails
to meet its contractual obligations. The cutbacks came
one month after voters refused at the polls to bail the
town out of its financial troubles through a property
tax increase.
(Web Link)
Return to Headlines
International
Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
December 14
, 2006
The IAFF represents more than 273,000 full-time
professional fire fighters and paramedics who
protect 80 percent of the nation's population. More
than 2,900 affiliates and their members protect
nearly 6,000 communities in every state in the
United States and Canada. In addition to city and
county fire fighters and emergency medical
personnel, the IAFF represents state employees (such
as the California Forestry fire fighters), federal
workers (such as fire fighters on military
installations), and fire and emergency medical
workers employed at certain industrial facilities.
Sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA),
the Frontline
News Brief includes summaries
of news articles related to fire fighters, emergency
response and the fire service. It is distributed
twice a month to IAFF affiliate leaders and members.
For more information, contact:
Jane Blume
Director of Communications
International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 737-8484
