The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board has appointed Captain Gabe Blea to serve as City Chapter Vice-President in accordance with the IAFF Local 244 Constitution & Bylaws, Article VI, Section 4. Vice-President Blea previously served on the Executive Board from 2003-2005 in the capacity of both a Steward and Vice-President. His leadership and experience have earned him a great amount of respect from the membership. For Vice-President Blea’s contact info click on the Officers & Staff tab on the left column.

IAFF Local 244 will be sending four general members, two each from city and county chapters, along with four executive board members to the AFD Co-sponsored Training Seminar held at the AFD Training Academy. The following seminar is scheduled as follows:

Fire Department Administrative Investigations and Firefighter Discipline; May 8^th and 9^th, 2013. ID# 11467.

See www.patc.com or AFD Informational Memo 62 for seminar details.

Letters of interest should be sent to iafflocal244@hotmail.com by 5:00 PM, April 26, 2013. Award of selection will be granted to members in good standing based on seniority (time in service, not rank) in each members’respective fire department. Any opportunities not filled in either chapter will be allowed to be taken by additional members from the other chapter. Members selected will be registered and class fee paid by L244. Do not register online. Please allow L244 to complete registration and payment. Members selected will be contacted on or before May 1, 2013. Individual members selected will be responsible to manage their own work schedule for attendance, i.e. trades, if necessary.

First responders and communities are coming together from around the country in order to stand tall with Bostonians impacted by the April 15^th senseless act of violence. First responders are leading the way in getting victims and their families the help they need. ABQ5k4Boston is taking place on April 28^th and we need your help. They are raising money with and for the Boston’s First Responders Fund led by our IAFF Local sisters and brothers. Please send a message to nmabq5k4boston@gmail.com for more info about the 5k or how you can support New Mexico’s efforts to raise $47,000.

“Let’s put our money where our mouth is...”

Maintain and truly expand the advanced life support services performed by AFD Paramedics by using the 1% base pay increase, the Mayor offered for firefighters in the media, to pay for paramedics who are currently assigned to engines and pay for extrication equipment to be placed on all Engines and Rescues. Our system saves lives and keeps Firefighters safe, it’s worth the investment. Approximate cost: 1% is $500,000 and staffing is $450,000 (recurring).

The Fire Chief’s ALS Expansion Plan as initially proposed in City Council resolution (R-13-156) calls for placing a paramedic on all of the 22 Engines in service. However, it does not go into detail on where that paramedic comes from, removing one medic from rescues currently staffed with two is not expanding it is simply diluting paramedic resources in the rescue division.

R-13-156 passed as amended removing any Council influence/endorsement on AFD policy or operational changes including “restructuring of Paramedic functions beyond rescue units.” It simply funded additional EKG/Lifepacks. We are currently meeting and exceeding EMS response times. We should focus on improving patient care and maintain our response times by fully funding this expansion initiative without decreasing resources in the rescue division to facilitate staffing paramedics on the engines.

“The Mayor’s Proposed Raise”

It’s time to have meaningful discussions and negotiations with Fire & City Administration not a high priced privately contracted city negotiator. As we said in the Saturday, March 30, 2013 ABQ Journal article the 1% offered away from the table is not a raise. Restoring the unilateral base pay in its entirety (2.5% contractually approved and currently being litigated) will help with recruitment and retention which are critical to the future of the AFD. We can discuss the “raise” promised in the 2008 contract at a later date. Public safety should be the priority of the budget, period.

Rescue 13 and Engine 13 C shift responded to a trouble breathing call involving a two year old female. Upon arrival rescue breathing was already being performed by the father. The AFD units took over the life-saving efforts. With drug intervention along with proper ventilation she was able to make a quick recovery. Because of the positive outcome, the Dr. involved would like to use this call as a teaching tool as a great example of competent and effective airway and drug intervention; also highlighting the importance of proper and effective ventilation with a BVM. R13 and E13 should be proud of themselves for their ability to utilize their skills in such a stressful situation and obtain a positive outcome. Lt. J. Baldwin, Lt. S. Tovar, Dr. R. Garcia, Dr. A. Ortega, FF B. Jackson, FF D. Curtis were honored and presented with a plaque from the IAFF Local 244 Executive Board on April 10, 2013.

Please click link below to view summary. Specific changes to Municipal Fire Plan 5 are referenced on page 2 of the PERA summary under CHANGES FOR TIER 2 MEMBERS Public Safety Plan Members. You will also find Employee Contribution Rate, Cost-of-Living (COLA) changes under the same section. Please call with any questions.

Attention IAFF Members:

Attached is a newly updated Beneficiary Designation Form for PERA to be used by active members to designate a survivor and refund beneficiary to receive a death benefit after the death of the member. This new form combines both beneficiary designations (survivor and refund).  If you have not completed a Beneficiary Designation Form or if your situation (married, divorced, children, etc) has changed since your date of hire please complete this form and return it by mail to PERA.

*Information regarding changes to Municipal Fire Plan 5 per the passage of SB27 will be forthcoming and added to the website once a ‘Fact Sheet’ is completed.

As of today, March 28, 2013 Brother Ahren Griego has officially stepped down from the Executive Board. He has devoted countless hours over his seven year tenure honorably serving our membership and families.

The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board is accepting letters of interest for the position of City Chapter Vice-President for the next 14 calendar days. The Executive Board will appoint a member to serve on April 11, 2013 in accordance with the IAFF Local 244 Constitution & Bylaws, Article VI, Section 4. .

Please click on the PDF link below.

On Saturday, April 13th 2013, the IAFF Local 244 will host the 2^nd Annual ‘Swing for Survivors’ Golf Tournament benefiting the Firefighters’ Survivors Fund; which provides financial assistance to Firefighters who have been stricken by life threatening conditions. A portion of this year’s proceeds will also go to support The Leary Firefighters Foundation which was established in 2000 by actor Denis Leary. The Leary Firefighters Foundation’s mission is to provide funding and resources for Fire Departments to obtain the best available equipment, technology and training.

 The tournament will take place at the Desert Greens Golf Course in Paradise Hills located at 10035 Country Club Lane, NW, Albuquerque, NM.
 
Feel free to contact Brother Martin Salazar martindsalazar@msn.com for more information or any questions regarding the ‘Swing for Survivors’ Benefit Golf Tournament. Your support will assist local Firefighters and their families who have been stricken by life threatening conditions. Please click on the PDF link below and print out the registration form to participate in the tournament.