On Monday, September 24, 2012 the IAFF Local 4366 will host a Charity Golf Tournament at the Santa Fe Country Club beginning at 9:00am. All proceeds will go to “Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families” in Santa Fe. The cost is $100.00 per person which includes round of golf, cart, range balls, and lunch. It is open to the public so all are welcome. This is our first annual event and would like to continue this for many years to come so please come out and show your support. Please call Tony Ruscetti at 505-681-7021 to reserve your spot or for any questions you might have.

July 26, 2012 – Three thousand IAFF members today marched on Philadelphia City Hall to demand that Mayor Michael Nutter implement an arbitration award that Philadelphia Fire Fighters and Paramedics Union Local 22 won – twice – and which the mayor continues to refuse to implement.

Fire fighters from across the Unites States and Canada, their families and supporters mustered on the south side of Broad Street outside of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and marched to City Hall. Along the way, they chanted “Binding is Binding, Honor the Award!” and “Shame on you Mayor Nutter!”  It was a fitting end to the IAFF 51st Convention in Philadelphia, where the theme of the biennial meeting was “Fighting Back for a Stronger Union.”

“All our members expect is fair treatment and for the mayor to obey the law,” General President Harold Schaitberger said from the steps of Philadelphia City Hall. His voice raspy and strained after five days of meetings and speeches, the General President sounded a tone of defiance on behalf of Local 22. “This mayor has five days to make a decision. He’s a big city mayor and if he doesn’t honor this award then he is going to have to deal with the full force of this International!”

Fire fighters from all over the United States and Canada reinforced the message that Local 22 has repeated since the arbitration award was handed down – that Mayor Nutter has a legal obligation to obey the award and put into force the fire fighters' contract. The union's contract expired in July 2009. Arbitrators awarded a contract in 2010. The City appealed. After a year, a Common Pleas Court judge sent the case back to the arbitration panel for reconsideration. The panel this month awarded 3 percent raises and denied the City the right to furlough fire fighters and medics. It gave Mayor Nutter until July 31 to implement the arbitration. But Local 22 members still don’t have their raises. “This is a mayor who has no respect for the people who save lives for a living. This is getting old,” Local 22 President Bill Gault said. “The people who save your life deserve better treatment. It’s the same award as the cops. It’s doable. What he’s doing is completely wrong and he is breaking the law.”

Firefighters assembled in front of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, stretching the length of 13th Street from Arch to Race streets. After making the one-block march to City Hall, they assembled on the north steps of City Hall in the scorching heat to blast Mayor Nutter. President Schaitberger, addressing specifically the members of Local 22 who have battled with the mayor for three years, said, “We are going to be here with you. We are going to spend what it takes to help you win.”

The Santa Fe Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 2059 is hosting a charity golf tournament to benefit the MDA of New Mexico "Fill the Boot" campaign. The tournament will be Monday August, 6th at Santa Fe Country Club Golf Course. The tournament will be a 10:00am shotgun start, 4-man scramble format, with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places as well as longest drive and closest to the pin. There will be a charity raffle and lunch following the round. Entry fee is $100 per player and $400 per team and will cover 18 holes of golf, cart, and lunch. Please come out and support this great cause and proud IAFF/MDA tradition. This event is open to the public so please spread the word!

For more information please contact IAFF Local 2059 Vice-President Eric Gonzales at 505-316-1678. Please click link below to view the flyer for the event.

On behalf of IAFF Local 244, we express our deepest sympathies for the tragic and untimely loss of Fire Chief Jon Tibbetts’. Chief Tibbetts touched many lives of those within the Fire and EMS service as well as the community and his influence will carry on for years to come.  During his tenure as Fire Chief of the Sandoval County Fire Department he made a significant impact on Fire and EMS protection services and delivery throughout the region. Chief Tibbetts’ selfless dedication will not be forgotten.

We also express our condolences to our brothers and sisters of IAFF Local 4563 for the loss of their Fire Chief. As community servants respect and honor are not always given but earned; Chief Tibbetts was the example, a true leader and well deserved the respect and honor of every Firefighter and Paramedic in New Mexico.

District Court Judge Beatrice Brickhouse ruled in favor of AFD Captain/IAFF Leader Emily Kane granting her the ability to run for NM State House of Representatives. The Judge ruled that the City Charter’s prohibition is overly broad and that although they have the right to restrict employees from holding City elective office, they may not prohibit firefighters from running or holding any other elective office. This ruling ensures that hard working public employees can run and hold elective office. Firefighters and Paramedics possess a strong service ethic and can contribute a practical “boots on the ground” perspective; a perspective that has been under represented.

“The public deserves a choice of candidates including working men and women who have demonstrated a willingness to represent and serve. It’s important to remember that true leaders lead by example,” said Emily Kane.

The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board would like to acknowledge Attorney Michael Cadigan for his excellent work in representing Sister Kane.

 Link to news coverage:

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/afd-captain-cant-be-fired-for-campaign?ref=scroller&categoryId=10001&status=true

July 13, 2012 – IAFF members in Oregon have won an important victory in a work-related testicular cancer case. The Administrate Law Judge Review Panel ruled in favor of Tualatin Valley Local 1660 fire fighter Steve Fisher in a workers' compensation case in which the insurance company, SAIF, failed to rebut the presumption that Fisher's testicular cancer resulted from his employment as a fire fighter.

Dr. Francesca Litow, occupational medicine specialist and former IAFF occupational medicine resident, successfully refuted the claims made by physicians testifying on behalf of SAIF by providing the Review Panel a thorough and convincing testimony on Fisher's behalf.

“This was our first cancer case under our presumptive legislation, and our first appeal to the workers' compensation board,” says Kelly Bach, president of the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC). "We are grateful and proud of the IAFF’s and Dr. Litow’s assistance, without which Brother Fisher would not have been awarded his just benefit.” Fisher, an advocate for fire fighter cancer issues, says, “I wanted to have this case publicized in hopes that it will help other members in Oregon and throughout the IAFF.”

Based on a systemic review of the medical literature on fire fighter exposures to carcinogens and the medical literature concerning the relationship between fire fighting and testicular cancer, Dr. Litow illustrated to the Review Panel that the weight of evidence in this case supported Fisher’s claim that his cancer was a result of his occupation as a fire fighter. The Review Panel said Dr. Litow’s testimony was “thorough, well explained, and persuasive” and “demonstrated a convincing breadth of knowledge on both the medical literature and the claimant’s specific employment activities.”

“These wins will provide the peace of mind to all fire fighters who each day in the performance of their duties are exposed to potentially carcinogenic agents,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "The IAFF and our Medical Residency Program will continue to assist of our members with such precedent-setting cases.” Schaitberger congratulates the efforts of OSFFC President Bach and the leadership of Tualatin Valley Local 1660. "This was an extremely important victory for our member, Steve Fisher, as well as all fire fighters and their families across the United States and Canada."

The IAFF Local 244 County Chapter Collective Bargaining Agreement has been tentatively agreed upon as of today. The ratification vote will take place on July 31, 2012 in accordance with Article X, Section 1 and Article XI, Section 2 of the IAFF Local 244 Constitution & By-Laws. The poll sites will be open from 7:00am - 7:00pm at the Union Hall, Station 33 and Station 40. To review the strike-and-delete version of the TA’d agreement, log in and click on the Contracts section under main menu.

President Arencón would like to acknowledge the 2012 County Chapter Negotiating Team; George Asi, Steve Lopez, Chris Maes, Derek Spurlock and Luis Padilla for their diligent work in representing our collective needs. A job well done!

When the members from AFD Station 8 donated part of their lottery winnings to the ‘Fire Fighter Survivors Fund’ for Vince Cordova it received national attention. It was broadcast in New York where Maria Cukr, with Live Nation, works. She saw the story and called Brother Brian Barnes to ask if this was one of his fellow AFD Firefighters. When she learned about the Fire Fighter Survivors Fund she wanted to help out by donating .25 a ticket sold for the Rockstar Mayhem show in Albuquerque on July 7, 2012. On the day of the show the festival creator, John Reese, offered to match it and also donate .25 a ticket. With the help of the GM Brandon Sirochman and Regional President Terry Burke the donation totaled $6,672.50!

It is with tremendous gratitude that The IAFF Local 244 membership recognizes Maria Cukr, Brandon Sirochman, Terry Burke of Live Nation and creator of the Mayhem Festival John Reese.

A special thank you to Driver Brian Barnes for making this happen, this contribution will serve our members who suffer from life threatening injuries for years to come.

Today marks Lieutenant Ron Sanchez’ last shift with his crew at AFD Station 19 as he moves on to a well deserved retirement. The IAFF Local 244 Executive Board honored his 23 years of service and dedication to the Albuquerque Fire Department with an ‘Honoring Our Own’ ceremony. “Ron is the type of officer that makes sure you get home safe to your family,” said Driver Joey Velasquez. Lieutenant Sanchez took great pride in his profession throughout his career influencing several generations of firefighters while teaching them invaluable “on the job” lessons. Thank you for your leadership, Brother Sanchez. Congratulations and good luck!