2011 Third Quarter Newspaper
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Volume 19 | No. 3 Third Quarter 2011 California Professional Firefighters State Council of the International Association of Fire Fighters • California Labor Federation • AFL-CIO Never Forget Thirty Firefighters Honored in This Year’s Memorial Ceremony niformed firefighters, family structure fire in San Francisco’s first members and dignitaries from multiple line-of-duty death in 60 years. throughout California gathered UOct. 1st to pay tribute to those who “The 30 individuals whose names we gave their lives to protect the lives and add to it today represent the best of our property of Californians. state and its people,” said Lou Paulson, Chair of the California Fire Foundation Continuing a solemn and sobering and President of California Professional autumn tradition, the California Firefighters. “In adding their names to this Firefighters Memorial added the proud Memorial, we pay tribute to their names of 30 California firefighters honor and sense of duty, and we commit who fell in the line of duty. Located to their loved ones that we will always in historic Capitol Park, adjoining the remember what they gave for our state.” California State Capitol in Sacramento, the Memorial carries the names of The Memorial ceremony also included more than 1,200 firefighters who died a moving tribute by Vallejo firefighter in service since California became a Brett Smith, whose friend and state in 1850. colleague – Alameda City firefighter Scott Carnevale -- died earlier this “Today, we honor 30 firefighters who year of job-related cancer. gave their lives in service to our state and their communities,” Governor The centerpiece of the annual Edmund G. Brown Jr. said. “Their firefighters memorial ceremony is the bravery, commitment and sacrifice will presentation of flags to the families, not be forgotten.” friends and representatives of every one of the individuals being honored. Among the names added to the The tribute also features a solemn Memorial were San Francisco uniformed firefighter procession and Lieutenant Vincent Perez and San the traditional “Last Alarm” ceremony, Francisco FirefighterAnthony Valerio. in which a fire bell is rung to signify a Both men died battling a June 2, 2011 fallen firefighter’s final call to duty. Memorial Photos on pages 12-13 President’s Perspective Page 3 on Working Families Page 6 PSP Personal Sacramento, CA Sacramento, District Reports Sacramento, CA 95833 CA Sacramento, PAID Exposure Page 14 U.S. Postage U.S. 1780 Creekside Oaks, Suite 200 Suite Oaks, Creekside 1780 Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit irefighters irefighters California Professional F Professional California Reporting Page 10 CPF LOCALS GO PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month alifornia firefighters were “Our guys have been out in the field meals one evening at Wren’s Café “Our members were happy to in the pink this October wearing the shirts and sparking and Pietro’s #1 wearing their pink bring awareness to this cause and in honor of breast cancer interest from the general public,” shirts and half of all proceeds were participate with locals in California Cawareness month. said Kern County Firefighters directed to the North Bay Women’s and throughout the United States Health Resource Center. Hayward Pink duty shirts replaced the President Derek Robinson, whose in the hopes that soon we will find department wore pink under their Firefighters Local 1909 held a a cure,” said San Luis Obispo traditional blue uniforms in many fire fundraiser at their local Safeway stations across the state. Firefighters duty shirts for the entire month and Firefighters President Erik Baskin, store, bagging groceries for citizens came out in droves to raise money for sold their pink shirts to the public. whose local made a donation to the breast cancer charities during their “It’s a great cause and a great way to wearing their pink duty shirts and Susan G. Komen Foundation for the off-duty hours. And many firefighter reach out into the community.” selling shirts to the public. Money Cure. San Luis Obispo firefighters locals reached out to elected leaders raised was donated to the Susan donned pink T-shirts for a week special breast cancer awareness In Northern California, Vacaville G. Komen for the Cure as well as St. in October and collected public designations in October. Firefighters Local 3501 served Rose Hospital in Hayward. donations at Fire Station 1. Alameda firefighters wore pink T-shirts all month in support of cancer awareness month. Lodi firefighters wore pink uniform T-shirts with the They were also recognized by the City of Alameda for their efforts raising cancer awareness. Lodi Fire Department logo throughout October. Five Cities firefighters are wearing pink and selling shirts to the Hayward Firefighters reached out to the Hayward City Council and helped with drafting community to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. a city proclamation declaring October Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Hayward. 2 THIRD QUARTER VOLUME 19 NO. 3 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE OUTSOURCING PUBLIC SAFETY Lou Paulson ome months back, I had cities where they believe the familiar to union members in dozens Like Proposition 75 in 2005, and occasion to attend a politics are in their favor. of states around the country. The Proposition 226 in 1998, this new meeting of the San Carlos all-out attack on working families measure would eliminate your right S City Council. Scores Wackenhut has contracts to provide is being played out in statehouses to participate in politics through of citizens joined firefighters and fire protection service for individual around the country. Wisconsin … payroll deduction. But unlike the family members packed into the installations, such as Moffett Field. Ohio … Indiana … Florida. All have previous measures, the new initiative council chambers in response to But Wackenhut has never operated taken aim at retirement security, also attacks your right to participate an urgent call to the community. a municipal fire department in collective bargaining … even child at all through your union. Truly living Having summarily cancelled a long- California. Their lone experience in labor laws! up to the name “paycheck deception,” standing joint powers authority with municipal fire protection – a 1997 the loophole-riddled plan leaves intact the city of Belmont, politicians in contract with the Florida community In California, these legislative virtually every advantage Wall Street San Carlos were poised to take an of Estero – was so disastrous that assaults have not made a dent. The and corporate contributors enjoy, unprecedented step – outsource the contract was terminated after reason: political action. even as its backers proclaim their municipal fire protection service to a just seven months. “balanced” approach. private company. Thanks to your efforts, California Wackenhut’s decision to go after has a pro-labor Legislature. It also If this initiative passes, every avenue The citizens were having none of it. local fire department contracts – has a governor who actually signed that gives you a voice in deciding And eventually, the council blinked and their choice of California as the original collective bargaining your rights, benefits, working (at least temporarily). a target – reflects a cynical and law for state employees. The active conditions, and staffing will be cut sobering reality: Hard times have involvement of your local union off. Once that happens, the door Over the past year, Wackenhut made us easier targets. in politics has produced literally swings wide open for pension hundreds of negotiated contracts Industries – a $2 billion private rollbacks that threaten your security. that protect core services even as security firm – has begun a high- Under the guise of “fiscal discipline,” It swings wide open for pay cuts, they reflect hard times. When your stakes push to get itself into the hard line city bureaucrats and anti- steep staff cuts and station closures. local is able to exercise its right to fire business. employee politicians have stuck And it swings wide open for participate, and bring your power Wackenhut to privatize your jobs. guns to the heads of our local as firefighters and proud union • Cities like San Carlos and officials up and down the state. They members, we win more often than You won’t be able to stop them. You Costa Mesa have been openly threaten privatization and regional we lose. won’t have a voice. courting Wackenhut to provide outsourcing. They impose pension their fire protection services. restrictions and put blatantly Your voice is so strong in the In the coming months, you will be unconstitutional measures on local process that the hard-liners are left hearing much more from CPF on • CPF locals in Piedmont, ballots. They fight to end binding with only one option in California: this issue. I encourage you to talk Huntington Beach and other arbitration. And they engage in “just Shut you up at the ballot box. to your local union leadership, get areas say their local leaders say no” contract negotiations that the facts about this measure, and have solicited bids even as they reject any and all concessions, no In an ominous “do over” of two learn why we believe “paycheck have stiff-armed negotiations. matter how deep. previously failed efforts, the big deception” is the single most money boys are once again going important issue on the ballot in 2012. • Wackenhut has even reportedly The rhetoric used against firefighters after your political voice through a submitted unsolicited bids to and other public workers is all too “paycheck deception” initiative. Please stay safe. CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS THIRD QUARTER VOLUME 19 NO. 3 3 LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT CPF Firevision anniversary of 9/11. We remain hearts to support our Association, My name is Kathy Gee, and grateful to all of the men, women we would not be able to battle my brother Terry’s name was As a retired union firefighter, I and families of our first responders neuromuscular disease.