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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.

The Frontline News Brief is delivered directly by email and is also published on the IAFF web site. You can view past issues at http://daily.iaff.org/frontline/morenews.html.

Your feedback is also welcome - email pr@iaff.org with questions and comments.
 

"Plan Is Changed for Arranging Names on Trade Center Memorial" (The New York Times)
"Helmet upgrade" (The Sun Chronicle)
"Louisiana Local Wins Overtime Case" (International Association of Fire Fighters)
"Mayor, firefighters agree on 3-year contract" (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
"Hire more women in fire halls, city told" (The Globe and Mail)
"Portsmouth to Let Employees Unfit for Duty Borrow Leave" (Virginian-Pilot)
"Berkeley begins rotating closures" (Inside Bay Area)
"Record number of wildfires in 2006" (Associated Press)
"States Struggle to Cover Retirees" (USA Today)
"Hurricanes Provide Florida With Practice for Handling Possible Pandemic" (Insurance Journal)
"New Study Shows Soot and Toxins Increase Risk for Cancer" (International Association of Fire Fighters )
"Just Capitalism" (The Washington Post)
"Firefighters to get healthy" (Associated Press)
"Fire union big draws W's eye" (The New York Daily News)
"Firefighters rally for dead comrade" (The Ottawa Sun)
"Fire department staff axed to balance budget" (The Toledo Blade)
"Special cell-phone entry alerts first responders to call family members" (The Press Enterprise)

"Frontline News Brief" is Sponsored By:

Plan Is Changed for Arranging Names on Trade Center Memorial
The New York Times (12/14/06); Dunlap, David W.

The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation has abandoned its longtime plan to list victim's names randomly on the 9/11 memorial. The plan had angered family members and fire fighters. Instead, under the new proposal, fire fighters and police officers will be grouped by command or precinct or company -- but not by rank -- in a ribbon of names on a parapet overlooking the south pool -- one of twin pools. Stephen Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York Local 94, who supports the new plan, said, "It's fitting that those who perished that day be listed together with their brothers who they went into battle with." Also around the south pool will be the names of those who died in the south tower and those aboard United Airlines Flight 175 and on the flights that crashed in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. Around the north pool will be the names of those who died in the north tower and those aboard American Airlines Flight 11. The plan was adopted by the Foundation's executive committee.

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Helmet upgrade
The Sun Chronicle (12/20/06); Foster, Rick

Attleboro, MA Local 848 fire fighter Paul Jacques, who was deployed as an Air Force reservist in Iraq, has been instrumental in getting troops upgrades to their military helmets. Experts have said the helmets do not adequately protect against blast injuries. As an Air Force technical sergeant often called on to extricate roadside bombing victims, Jacques said he could readily see the need for added protection. Partnering with Dr. Bob Meaders, a Texas physician who started Operation Helmet, a non-profit group that raises money to retrofit soldiers' helmets, Jacques asked for and received kits needed to modify the helmets with additional padding. According to military officials, upgrades are normally provided to frontline combat troops and others whose principal duties are outside a protected base camp. But while the armed forces have recently purchased thousands of upgrade kits, most troops are still without protection. Jacques initially sought enough kits to retrofit the fire fighters in his 37-person unit from the 102nd Fighter Wing stationed at Otis Air Force Base. He then contacted the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and the International Association of Fire Fighters, which responded with an immediate gift of $5,000 to purchase retrofit kits. Eventually, fire fighting organizations and others from all over the country committed a total of $27,000 to the effort. Jacques returned home from his six-month mission in October, but the fight to provide safer and more comfortable helmets for servicemen and women continues. Operation Helmet has now shipped more than 30,000 upgrade kits -- costing about $100 each -- to units in Iraq and Afghanistan . Additional information is available at www.operation-helmet.org.  
(Web Link)
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Louisiana Local Wins Overtime Case
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/20/06)

The members of Houma, LA Local 1405 have scored two big victories in their fight for fair overtime compensation. For the first time, district chiefs are eligible for overtime compensation. In addition, fire fighters will be paid $48,118 in back wages as part of the same case. "We are especially excited about the precedent-setting part of the ruling that allows district chiefs to be eligible for overtime," says Terry Leonard, president of Houma Local 1405. "Now other Louisiana IAFF locals fighting the same battle will be able to benefit from our case."
(Web Link)
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Mayor, firefighters agree on 3-year contract
Cleveland Plain Dealer (01/03/07); Vinella, Susan

Cleveland, OH Local 93 has reached an agreement with Mayor Frank Jackson on a new three-year contract for the fire fighters that, if approved by City Council, will boost their salaries 2 percent annually for the next three years, beginning in April. In exchange, Local 93 will make scheduling changes that should cut up to $1.5 million in overtime pay each year. Fire fighters will also sign up for the city's new health care plan to save money. Local 93 President Bob Fisher was angry last year after the City Council voted down an agreement he negotiated with former Mayor Jane Campbell during her final days in office in 2005. The current agreement is similar to the one reached with Campbell, although there is no promise from the fire fighters not to go forward with pending lawsuits against the city.

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Hire more women in fire halls, city told
The Globe and Mail (12/22/06); Kari, Shannon

Richmond, BC Local 1286 says the city needs to take a more active role in making the fire department more diverse after one of its three female fire fighters resigned. "Our hiring pools should look more like our community," said Tim Wilkinson, president of Richmond Local 1286. He recommends that the city use outreach programs to encourage qualified people to apply to the Richmond Fire Department, "rather than set quotas, which tend to be destructive."  Wilkinson also suggested that the Richmond Fire Department train potentially qualified candidates even if they are not enrolling in fire colleges. In neighboring Vancouver , there are currently seven female fire fighters out of a total of 700 employees assigned to "fire suppression" duties. In Richmond , there are currently two female fire fighters in a department of more than 200 employees.
(Web Link)
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Portsmouth to Let Employees Unfit for Duty Borrow Leave
Virginian-Pilot (12/17/06); McCaffery, Jen

A new "advance sick leave" program for Portsmouth, Virginia, does not do enough to protect pregnant fire fighters, according to Tyrone Wisher, who left Portsmouth, VA Local 539 as president in November. The policy is designed to serve as a last option for city employees who have used up their sick time, annual leave and sick leave bank benefits. Workers who are unable to fulfill the physical requirements of their job will be able to borrow time based on their medical condition, but will be faced with having to repay the city overtime. The city council adopted the policy in December. "I applaud them for doing something, but it still doesn't help," says Wisher. Current Local 539 President Nathan Clark agrees with Wisher's assessment, noting that it would take 30 years for a fire fighter to accrue the time to repay 90 days off under the program.
(Web Link)
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Berkeley begins rotating closures
Inside Bay Area (12/22/06); Bender, Kristin

The City of Berkeley, California, has begun temporarily closing fire stations in a cost-saving move that fire fighters say is risky. City leaders initiated the rotating closures of fire stations as a result of a biannual budget review. The alternative would be to permanently close one of Berkeley 's seven fire stations. The temporary closures were triggered because in recent years, the City says it has spent an estimated $2 million annually on fire fighters' overtime. Two years ago, stations in Berkeley were temporarily closing due to budget shortfalls. In Oakland , rotating closures ended last year when voters passed a property tax increase that sets aside $4 million annually to fund fire stations. Brian Harryman, president of Berkeley, CA Local 1227, said, "Closing fire stations to balance the budget, especially when department staffing is already at a level that should be considered the bare minimum, jeopardizes the safety of our members and the citizens who may be in need of fire and medical emergency response." Fire fighters also worry that being short on staff during an earthquake, major hills fire or flood could be catastrophic. Berkeley fire fighters are protesting the closures daily in front of each closed station and distributing fliers asking residents to write letters to the mayor and city council.
(Web Link)
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Record number of wildfires in 2006
Associated Press (12/14/06); Schmid, Randolph

The United States set a record for wildfires in 2006, and climate experts say it was the third warmest year on record for the contiguous United States. Drought and hot conditions contributed to the record wildfire season, with more than 9.5 million acres burned through early December, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
(Web Link)
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States Struggle to Cover Retirees
USA Today (12/17/06); Cauchon, Dennis

Rising medical costs and the retirement of baby boomers are forcing states and cities to seek alternative solutions to underwrite the cost of providing health care benefits. In West Virginia, the state pension board is deciding whether to unload prescription drug coverage for retirees onto Medicare, a move that would shave $3 billion off of the state's unfunded liability. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, civil servants hired after October 1, 2006, must now work 20 years before they can qualify for 100 percent state-paid medical coverage. Prior to the rule change, workers could qualify after five years of service. In San Diego, the city council recently cancelled retiree health coverage for workers who received large pension increases four years ago, while in South Carolina, state lawmakers will consider a proposal in the state budget that would put $245 million in a new trust fund for retiree medical benefits.
(Web Link)
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Hurricanes Provide Florida With Practice for Handling Possible Pandemic
Insurance Journal (12/19/06); Royse, David

Florida emergency officials report that hurricane disasters have allowed the state to become more prepared for a flu outbreak, which could sicken an estimated six million-plus residents, including police officers, fire fighters and teachers. Officials state that while hurricanes can take out infrastructure, a pandemic would limit the number of public servants available to care for and treat residents. Florida officials have conducted disaster and pandemic drills in almost all counties at least once, and additional drills will occur as soon as federal money arrives. One of the drills focused on the distribution of flu vaccines, and officials continue to meet with companies to ensure they are prepared for possible worker shortages during a pandemic. The state has not stockpiled Tamiflu or other antiviral medications as suggested by the federal government; critics argue that without additional money, the state would be unable to stockpile the vaccines.
(Web Link)
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New Study Shows Soot and Toxins Increase Risk for Cancer
International Association of Fire Fighters (12/18/06)

A new study, "Cancer Risk Among Firefighters: A Review and Meta-analysis of 32 Studies," conducted by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, finds that on-the-job exposure to soot and toxins creates an increased risk for certain types of cancer among fire fighters. This study is consistent with the IAFF position that there is sufficient evidence available to demonstrate that fire fighting exposures increase the risk of cancer. It further supports the IAFF's effort to enact and maintain presumptive legislation that defines cancer as occupationally related to fire fighting.
(Web Link)
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Just Capitalism
The Washington Post (12/22/06) P. A32

Reform is necessary to make it easier for labor unions to organize, according to this commentary. Union membership has dropped from 20 percent in 1980 to 13 percent in 2005. The drop not only reflects the wave of deregulation that has overtaken industries such as airlines and trucking and tougher foreign competition, but it also is a commentary on the changes in how labor law is enforced. Today, it is easier for employers to frustrate efforts to form unions and terminate union organizers. The National Labor Relations Board has compounded the problem by making the eligibility requirements for union membership for workers stricter. Bad corporate policy is responsible for the anti-labor trend, and for this reason, comprehensive corporate reform is warranted.
(Web Link)
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Firefighters to get healthy
Associated Press (12/22/06)

Some U.S. fire departments are using federal money to expand programs aimed at getting fire fighters healthier. In Cranford , New Jersey, Fire Chief Leonard Dolan III has ordered his professional fire fighters to get medical tests and health advice, using federal money to pay for it. "Sudden heart attack is a major cause of death in our business," said Dolan. "To be physically fit so you can go from a resting state to a great deal of physical activity means you need to be in shape."  Many fire departments have been taking the health of their workers more seriously in recent years, and much is due to the federal Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grants awarded to pay for new facilities and equipment, although some departments also use them for fitness programs. The grants "haven't just improved health. They've saved lives through medical screenings," said Pat Morrison, health and safety director for the Washington, DC-based International Association of Fire Fighters.

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Fire union big draws W's eye
The New York Daily News (12/21/06); Sisk, Richard and Lemire, Jonathon

Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York Local 94 President Stephen Cassidy has been chosen by President George W. Bush to serve on the national awards review board for public safety officers. Cassidy will serve a four-year term on the Medal of Valor Review Board for fire fighters, established i n 2002 to honor fire fighters, police officers and emergency service personnel with a national honor similar to the Medal of Honor for the military.  
(Web Link)
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Firefighters rally for dead comrade
The Ottawa Sun (12/22/06); Puddicombe, Derek

Ottawa, ON Local 162  fire fighters stood outside City Hall just days before Christmas to protest the city's decision to not fully compensate Pat Thibideau, a fallen fire fighter who died last spring from brain cancer.  Peter Kennedy, president of Local 162, said the city isn't meeting its responsibility to Thibideau's family. He said the city should recognize the Workers Safety Insurance Board's decision that Thibideau's death was a line-of-duty death. Local 162 also wants the city to recognize that it was an accidental death which, if combined, would equal four times Thibideau's annual salary. "It sends a clear message that the city is not as supportive of their workers as we thought," said Kennedy. Thibideau, 63, died of brain cancer after years of being exposed to dangerous toxins while battling fires.
(Web Link)
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Fire department staff axed to balance budget
The Toledo Blade (12/20/06); Zaborney, Mark

A divided Sylvania (Ohio) Township Board of Trustees has adopted measures that spare a fire station in downtown Sylvania from closing in 2007 -- at the cost of five fire fighters' jobs, an emergency transport service and reduced fire department staffing. At the emotional meeting that included more than 75 fire fighters, Kurt Wolfe, a member of Local 2243 for three years, told trustees during the public comment period that he would resign. "I'm not too upset. Life goes on," he said, adding that, "As a taxpayer, I'm disgusted. I've heard too many half-truths, too many untruths. I'd like to know how laying off five fire fighters and disabling a medic unit is better for the community." Chris Nye, president of Sylvania  Local 2243, said outside the meeting that the trustees' action compromises public safety. The trustees "may be willing to accept that level of safety, but I don't think the community is," he said. "I'm very disappointed in their not allowing the public to have a say in their safety services." The option of closing the downtown Sylvania fire station was proposed last month as a way to reduce a projected $1.4 million deficit in the fire department's 2007 budget.
 
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Special cell-phone entry alerts first responders to call family members
The Press Enterprise; Zimmerman, Janet

A quick and easy way to identify emergency contact information in an individual's cell phone address book is the  idea behind ICE, which stands for "in case of emergency." Rescue workers are urging cell-phone users to program the acronym with a name and phone number so emergency personnel can quickly scroll the list, see the ICE designation and locate a loved one. "We have had situations where we have tried to get a hold of a family member," said Donna Newlin, ski patrol director at Snow Valley Mountain Resort who only recently found out about ICE. A British paramedic pioneered ICE early last year, and the movement picked up speed after London 's deadly transit-system bombings in July 2005. Since then, ICE has been promoted in the United States .
(Web Link)
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