LOCAL 282 UPDATE

MARCH 2007

Negotiations – with the latest contract proposal overwhelmingly rejected by the membership, the City has decided to move on to other unions. Contrary to the Fire Department rumor mill, there are currently no negotiations, nor are there any plans to commence negotiations any time soon.

Arbitration – the 2002-2004 contract period is still in the appeals court. We are awaiting the court to assign a date on the City’s appeal.

Arbitration – for the 2004-2006 contract period, we are waiting for PERB to give the parties a panel list of arbitrators.

Advisory Panel – the Executive Board is in the process putting together a panel to discuss our current position and possible solutions.

Promotional Exam – the Common Council has approved a contract to hire E.B. Jacobs to develop a promotional exam. As soon as we have further information we will forward it to the membership. Just to explain briefly; within a few months the company will request that members fill out an extensive survey regarding our job. E.B. Jacobs will then develop a list of questions from the surveys, and will also announce a bibliography. An exam may possibly be administered by the end of the year. An unknown percentage of this exam will be based on an oral interview which will be given by officers from other fire departments outside New York State.

TeleStaff – the City will be training some staff members on this computerized tracking system toward the end of March. This is intended to replace paperwork and track personnel; however, don’t throw out your carbon paper just yet!

Control Board – next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 21st at 1:00 p.m. at the Central Library.

2% Litigation – the City has appealed the judge’s decision.

FLSA (Compensatory Time) Litigation – we are still in the discovery phase (gathering information from the City).

M.O.C.H.A. Litigation – M.O.C.H.A.’s attorneys are still taking depositions. After depositions Judge Curtin will begin the trial.

LODD – there were five area line of duty deaths within the past month and fourteen

nationally. Many of these deaths occurred as a result of cancer related illnesses. Please

for the sake of your families, fill out an injury form and have it medically documented

any time you believe you may have been exposed to smoke or chemicals.

Life Insurance – some members have requested information on life insurance the New

York State Professional Firefighters Assoc. administers for Prudential, ING, and AFLAC

(Cancer Ins.). Through ING, the maximum amount if life insurance allowed will increase

to $250,000. The insurance representative from ING will attend a benefits seminar to be

held in Buffalo during the month of May.

Tier 2 – renewal legislation for Tier 2 pension has been passed by the NYS Assembly,

and will be introduced to the Senate shortly. If it passes it will then go to the Governor

for his signature. This legislation will be for new employees. Current employees in Tier 2

will remain.

Taylor Law – renewal legislation for the Taylor Law has been passed by the Assembly,

will be introduced to the Senate, and then sent to the Governor for his signature.

Presumptive Disability – renewal legislation for lung cancer and heart has been passed by

the Assembly and is ready to be introduced to the Senate for approval. It will then be sent

to the Governor for his signature.

Worker’s Comp Reform – Albany passed a Worker’s Comp. Reform package increasing

the benefits for injured workers and limiting the time spent on disability. This legislation

will not affect Buffalo Firefighters as we are covered under 207a disability benefits.

PERB – Governor Spitzer has appointed Jerome Lefkowitz as the new president of PERB.

Mr. Lefkowitz was past labor attorney for CSEA and assisted in the drafting of the Taylor

Law.

Call-ins – Phil Ryan, Chair of the Call-in committee will be reviewing the call-in policy.

Anyone wishing to suggest changes to the call-in policy, please forward all proposals,IN

WRITING, to Phil’s attention in the Union office.

At the last general meeting held on March 8th, there was discussion held regarding the

nineteen members who are still being carried at Step 2. It was the opinion of many of the

members present that the discrepancy in salary needs to be addressed. The two items

proposed were: 1) Allowing members who are not at full pay additional overtime

opportunities, 2) And/or having an assessment on the membership and giving those

affected members some sort of sub pay.