THROUGH SOLIDARITY California Professional Firefighters at 75

Volume 22 | No. 1 First Quarter 2014

California Professional Firefighters STRENGTH THROUGH SOLIDARITY California Professional Firefighters at 75

The job of a firefighter in the early years of the 20th Century advocate, Albertoni partnered with the California Labor Federation and the IAFF to win enactment was often brutally difficult. Salaries were meager, hours were of the Firefighters Right to Organize Act, the first punishing, protective equipment was non-existent and nobody legislation in California to offer an explicit right for any public employee to join a union. even thought much about retirement or health care. If a firefighter was killed – whether in a fire, from smoke, from a A RENEWED COMMITMENT Through the 1960s, Federated Fire Fighters of Cali- heart attack, or toxins – it was “next man up.” fornia continued to have an influence, helping to win passage of a new 2% at 50 retirement standard for n 1938, a collection of ten California affiliates day: the California Heart, Lung and Hernia presump- public safety, as well as increasing maximum pension of the International Association of Fire Fighters tion law and Labor Code 4850, allowing firefighters to caps. It helped to enact the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (IAFF) came together in Bakersfield with a sim- continue receiving a salary while recovering from job- of 1968, a major step toward collective bargaining. ple mission: work together to make life better related injuries (payments referred to as “4850 time”). The FFFC also provided logistical support as its local for firefighters, their families and the communi- Through World War II, labor-management strife affiliates went on strike in Vallejo, San Diego and ties they protect. More than 75 years later, the was on the back burner, but after the war, the activism Sacramento in 1970. Iorganization they created – California Professional of local firefighter unions in California expanded. In As the organization became increasingly active, it Firefighters – has become one of the most respected 1947, one of those affiliates – Long Beach Firefight- began to run into financial difficulties. The financial and influential labor voices in California, as well as ers Local 372 – won a groundbreaking state Supreme woes grew worse in the early 1970s, eventually creating a powerful and effective advocate for firefighters and Court case affirming firefighters’ vested pension rights a massive debt and prompting a number of prominent their families. (the “California Rule”). Often, affiliates sought local locals to withdraw. In 1972, a special convention unan- ballot propositions to reduce hours and increase pay, imously voted to ask the IAFF to temporarily take over BUILDING THE FIRE LABOR with decidedly mixed results. Federated Fire Fighters. Trustee Hank Kershner got MOVEMENT In 1956, the state association – now renamed Fed- a handle on the books and a four-member advisory Barely a year after its formation, CPF (then known erated Fire Fighters of California – began an intense panel that included future IAFF General President as International Fire Fighters of California) and its organizing campaign under the guidance of President Al Whitehead rewrote the constitution and bylaws. founding President Milton Terry were involved in the Al Albertoni, who would go on to become the IAFF’s At its 1973 Convention , coincidentally in Bakers- creation of two protections that still resonate to this secretary-treasurer. Doubling as the FFFC’s legislative field, the reborn Federated Fire Fighters elected

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PRESIDENT’S CPF POLITICAL 2013 PHOTO DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE ENDORSEMENTS CONTEST REPORTS Page 3 Page 9 WINNERS Page 14-21 Pages 12-13 STATE LEGISLATORS FEEL THE HEAT AT FIRE OPS 101 ore than 40 California State “We do these so the legislators know what we Legislators and staff members do on a daily basis so when they make policy participated in California in the Capitol, they have a better understand- Professional Firefighters' Fire ing of our needs.” Ops 101 held March 5th on the More than 60 off-duty firefighters from Mwest steps of the Capitol. several departments volunteered to staff the As part of the demonstration, participants all-day event and made sure the decision mak- were escorted through a burn trailer for a fire ers got to experience and learn about the real attack with charged hoses while wearing full challenges firefighters face every day. turnouts and SCBAs. They climbed to the top "I’ve always respected the work of the fire- of a 105-foot ladder for breathtaking views of fighters,” said Assemblymember Isadore Hall. the Capitol and downtown Sacramento, and “But when you get in there you can see how got to handle chain saws during roof ventila- your life can technically be on the line at any tion simulations atop the burn trailer. moment – you can fall off a ladder, you can “This is the only Fire Ops of its kind in the fall in the fire – your respect has heightened country,” CPF President Lou Paulson said. 1000 percent.”

2 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Standing Strong STANDING TOGETHER Lou Paulson

s firefighters, one of • The “California Rule,” establish- similar to those faced by CPF and In the final analysis, these traits – as the first things we ing vested pension rights, was its members throughout our history. important as they are – all take a back learn in training the result of a legal case brought Workplace safety, retirement security, seat to that central value at the heart of is about the spe- by Long Beach Firefighters Local health care, bargaining rights, disciplin- our profession: solidarity. cial importance of 372; ary protections … the list goes on. None of the accomplishments of the being “first in.” The company • The first law giving any public that is first on scene employee group the right to orga- identifies the extent of the incident, nize in unions without reprisal was For three quarters of a century, determines whether lives are in immi- sponsored and pressed to passage Anent peril, establishes the initial line by CPF (then known as Federated of attack, and assesses what additional Fire Fighters of California); California Professional Firefighters resources are needed. Lives and homes are saved because • The inexorable link between our and its affiliates have been “first in” the people who were “first on scene” did work environment and cancer was their jobs well. established in CPF-sponsored leg- As important as it is to get there fast, islation creating the nation’s first on some of the most important there is an even more basic cornerstone cancer-presumption law; of our training and values as firefight- events in the labor movement. ers: working together. When the alarm • CPF was the earliest and strongest voice to protect the right to freely rings, we don’t head out one at a time. participate in politics through We go out as a unit; a team. your union. In meeting these challenges, the past – or those of the future – happen These two central values – working past can’t be a template, but it can be because of one or two individuals. They fast and working together – have been These landmarks, and many others instructive, particularly in zeroing in happen because we all came together brought home to me over the past year represent an impressive legacy by any on the leadership and values that have and had each other’s back, in keeping as California Professional Firefighters measure. They are especially impres- helped CPF stand out over these many with the values and traditions of our has marked 75 years as the state council sive considering our relatively small decades. The foresight that helped envi- profession. Firefighters don’t just stand for the IAFF. size compared with the rest of labor in sion the cancer presumption law will be up. We stand together. It is in that soli- For three quarters of a century, the U.S. just as important as we work to protect darity that we draw our strength. California Professional Firefighters and Over the past year, we’ve been com- and refine that law. The shared commit- I am immensely proud of the role its affiliates have been “first in” on some piling pictures, stories and artifacts ment that has built the California Fire California Professional Firefighters has of the most important events in the labor from these past 75 years, and a book Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee played in creating a better life for our movement. documenting CPF’s history is coming will certainly serve us well in our fights state’s first responders and their fami- soon to a fire station near you. But while against outsourcing, fiscal downsizing lies. It is an honor to be a part of the • The first presumption law of it’s been enjoyable reflecting on the and attacks on our pensions. The tenac- history of this fine organization … an any type in California – the accomplishments of the past, my main ity that brought the Firefighters Bill of organization that has made a difference 1939 Heart, Lung and Hernia charge is to work to improve your lives, Rights into law after a 30-year battle will not just for firefighters in California, Presumption Law – was a topic and those of your family, in the present surely be tested as we push back against but also for all firefighters and work- at the founding meeting of CPF and in the future. the overreaching power grabs of groups ing people in our country. a year earlier; Many of the challenges ahead are like the League of California Cities.

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 3 entire public pension system, including that for firefighters – even the widows and orphans of fallen firefighters. CPF rallied members against the proposal, organizing protests against Schwarzenegger in a spirited “Chasing Arnold” campaign. Eventually, Schwar- zenegger withdrew the pension proposal, but continued to push for a special election on a so-called “reform agenda” that included another “paycheck deception” proposal. Firefighters became the face of Schwarzenegger’s opposition, along with teachers, nurses and law enforcement. When the election was held, every one of Schwarzenegger’s “reform” initiatives was defeated. Chastened by the “chasing”, Schwar- zenegger turned over a new leaf after his 2006 reelection, and in 2007, CPF won the 30-year fight to pass the Firefighters Bill of Rights. The new law protected the Gov. Jerry Brown (center) signs the nation’s first firefighter cancer presumption law in 1982. right to representation and due process Flanking Brown are CPF President Dan Terry (right) and Legislative Advocate Brian Hatch. in disciplinary procedures. CPF also won passage of legislation to expand firefighter cancer presumptions, a new presumption for the drug-resistant bac- Continued from page 1 terial infection MRSA, and expanded Daniel A. Terry - no relation to founder dollars. It is considered a national model veteran leader with a long history of sup- health benefits for surviving families of Milton Terry- as its President. Terry and for public employee apprenticeship. port for firefighters as Governor. fallen federal firefighters. Legislative Advocate Brian Hatch imme- As the fire service grew into an all- Davis' election helped to enact long- In the aftermath of the "Great Reces- diately refocused efforts on legislative and response institution, firefighting became sought advances for firefighters and sion" in 2008, CPF again found itself in political action, helping to elect a young, an occupation requiring more skill and their families, including expanded can- the arena fighting to protect pensions second-generation politician named a lot more training. Reflecting this new cer presumption, the 3% at 50 optional and firefighter rights. CPF’s sophisti- Jerry Brown as governor. With Brown in sophistication, Federated Fire Fighters retirement formula, statewide binding cated print and video media services charge, Federated Fire Fighters helped changed its name in 1986 and became arbitration and free CSU and UC edu- provided local affiliates with the tools intervene to prevent the use of non-union California Professional Firefighters. Not cation for children of fallen firefighters to elect favorable local elected officials strikebreakers against firefighters in Santa long afterward, CPF fought its first great and military. Davis also appointed CPF and push back against privatization and Barbara County and Berkeley. battle over retirement security, when for- Executive Board members to key admin- contracting efforts. In 2012, CPF pro- mer Gov. Pete Wilson raided CalPERS in istration posts, guaranteeing a voice for vided essential early financing and media AN INNOVATIVE FORCE IN 1991 to fill a budget hole. Having devel- front-line firefighters in all critical public support against yet another attack on THE FIRE SERVICE oped its own print shop (Firefighters Print safety decisions. firefighters’ political voice, Proposition With most of its wayward affiliates back & Design) and video studio (FireStar On September 11, 2001, the fire 32. As with the previous efforts, CPF’s and a favorable climate in the Legislature, Studios), CPF launched a statewide initia- service was upended by the terrorist combination of fiercely loyal membership the state organization became a focal point tive campaign that resulted in passage of attacks at the World Trade Center and and political savvy sank the attack, this for a new national conversation about fire- Proposition 162, the Pension Protection the Pentagon. One month afterward, time by a sizeable margin. fighter safety and training. Responding to Act. The measure blocked future pension CPF organized a California Day of the deaths of two Whittier firefighters in fund raids and ensured that preserving Remembrance at which thousands of CPF AT 75 the early 1970s, Federated Fire Fighters employee retirement security was at the firefighters paid their respects to those As CPF enters its second 75 years, many won passage of Assembly Bill 3011, the top of CalPERS’ priority list. who lost their lives that day. CPF also of the fights of the past are still being nation’s first firefighter cancer presumption In 1992, CPF won passage of leg- put grief into action by winning funding waged. Retirement security, bargaining law. Like the heart and lung presump- islation to establish the California for groundbreaking firefighter-specific disputes, workers’ compensation pre- tion, the 1982 law provided firefighters Firefighters Memorial at the State Capitol. training, Terrorism Consequence Man- sumptions and firefighter rights are all with the benefit of the doubt in workers’ Over the next decade, CPF’s California agement. In April, 2002, the California still active issues in the Legislature and compensation cases involving job-related Fire Foundation would raise more than Firefighters Memorial was unveiled in local councils. cancer. In order to help firefighters doc- $2 million, most of it from firefighters Capitol Park. Although the challenges remain ument their exposures, the Personal themselves through the firefighter license constant, California Professsional Fire- Exposure Reporting system was created. plate and tax check-off. In 1995, a site was IN THE ARENA fighters allows its members to fight from Another 1982 milestone was the established at the center of Capitol Park. In 2004, Lou Paulson, then the president a position of extraordinary strength establishment of the California Fire The 1990s also saw CPF win a hard-fought of Contra Costa County Professional and influence. CPF is a powerful force Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Commit- battle to establish the “two-in/two-out” Firefighters Local 1230, was elected in state government and politics and a tee (CFFJAC), a landmark partnership safety standard through CalOSHA. CPF's President, replacing Dan Terry leader in the labor movement. Its local between CPF and the California State who retired. affiliates have access to the tools of mod- Fire Marshal. Initially established to help TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY Within a year of Paulson’s election, ern politics, allowing them to make their the fire service build a more diverse work In 1998, CPF was a guiding force behind Arnold Schwarzenegger – elected gov- case in negotiations, rather than on the force, the CFFJAC soon became a vehicle the defeat of the first “paycheck decep- ernor in 2003's chaotic recall contest that picket lines. through which firefighters could receive tion” initiative to restrict labor’s political ousted Davis – would realize the worst CPF and its affiliates have helped specific training and their departments voice, Proposition 226. In the same elec- fears of firefighters. Schwarzenegger California firefighters achieve strength could be reimbursed for those training tion, CPF helped elect Gray Davis – a latched onto a proposal to privatize the through solidarity.

4 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS SECRETARY-TREASURER’S DESK

HEARING YOUR CONCERNS AT CONVENTION he average union firefighter For example, your union has an idea probably doesn’t even know for a new state law, to make EMT certi- that the 2014 California fication valid for five years instead of the Professional Firefighters current two. Your union votes to turn your Biennial Convention is idea into a resolution and it’s forwarded coming up in mid-May. to the convention for consideration. If it's Many that do know think approved, the resolution then becomes a Ttheir leaders are heading to Universal City legislative priority for the CPF staff as they on the proverbial “junket.” The reality is work with the state legislature to change Lew Stone that the upcoming convention is the spear- the existing law and regulations pertain- head of our vision for the next two years, ing to EMT certifications. and that vision is shaped by you. As you can see, our convention process Like most large labor organizations, empowers every member of every local to CPF operates as a representational democ- positively affect our profession. racy. Each local union elects delegates to The delegates at convention determine labor leaders across the state. The conver- discussed during a lunch break. attend the convention based on total mem- our legislative priorities. They also make sations that take place off the convention Every union member should be bership. These delegates then participate in decisions on the amount of dues collected floor provide opportunities to hear how encouraging their leadership to send del- committee work and ultimately vote on the from each member to further our politi- other locals are dealing with negotia- egates to the convention. When those convention floor for a variety of resolutions. cal successes and protect our careers from tions, disciplinary issues, new ideas in delegates return, make sure that there Because the primary mission of CPF is politicians bent on destroying our collec- health and safety and many others areas is a full dialogue about what occurred, legislative and political action, the major- tive bargaining rights and pensions. Every that are so important to properly lead- what decisions were made and what they ity of the resolutions deal with those two dues increase is governed by the action of ing a local. The relationships developed learned by the experience. If your union subjects. Where do those resolutions come your delegates at convention. at a convention can prove invaluable in doesn’t send delegates, you are failing to from? Two primary sources: the CPF Exec- Another key aspect of our convention that moment when you need some advice fully participate in the most important utive Board and local unions. is networking: getting to know other about an issue that you remember was part of union democracy in action.

Executive Board CPF Callback Association CALIFORNIA Lou Paulson President Cynthia Clark Projects Coordinator Lew Stone Secretary-Treasurer PROFESSIONAL Tim Strack 1st District Vice President Firefighters Print & Design Chris Mahon 2nd District Vice President Mariena De Anda Director Bobby Weist 3rd District Vice President Autumn Emond Administrative Assistant FIREFIGHTERS Randy Sekany 4th District Vice President Cynthia Clark Promotional Products Representative Michael Massone 5th District Vice President Robbie Panco Graphic Designer Mike Lopez 6th District Vice President Natalie Mercado Prepress & Print Specialist Published Quarterly Dave Gillotte 7th District Vice President Victor Jimenez Press Operator Frank Lima 8th District Vice President Todd Archer Delivery/Shipping Clerk

Publication Office Trustees California Fire Foundation California Professional Firefighters Jim Ahl Hedi Jalon Executive Director 1780 Creekside Oaks • Sacramento, CA 95833 Erik Baskin Kaitlin Conrad Foundation Coordinator (916) 921-9111 Rick Swan California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee Web: www.cpf.org Staff Yvonne de la Peña Program Director Email: [email protected] Teresa Ortiz Managing Director Christy Bouma Governmental Advocate FireStar Studios Amy Howard Legislative Director Kelley Trujillo Vice President Editor: Carroll Wills Chris Patterson Political Director Graphic Designer: Robbie Panco Carroll Wills Communications Director Kevin White EMS and Health & Safety Director Pharris Treskunoff Administrative Asst. to the President Apryl Swanberg PER Coordinator Kathy Shipley Full-Charge Bookkeeper Ting Ting Hui Senior Accountant Rosalia Lopez Administrative Assistant

A D M I N S T R O Stacy Smith Receptionist

Official publication of the California Professional Firefighters, organized October 12, 1938. Incorporated as not-for-profit May 27, 1958. Member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO. All unsolicited articles, manuscripts, letters and photographs sent to California Professional Firefighters are sent at the owner's risk, and California Professional Firefighters expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for their safe custody or return.CALIFORNIA Signed articles express PROFESSIONAL the views of the authors FIREFIGHTERS and not necessarily those of the editors of California Professional Firefighters. Send all correspondenceFIRST and photographs QUARTER to California | VOLUME Professional 22 NO.Firefighters, 1 5Publication Office, 1780 Creekside Oaks, Sacramento 95833. We reserve the right to edit submitted materials. © 2014 California Professional Firefighters. CPF-BACKED CONSUMER CHOICE BILL TARGETS TOXIC FLAME RETARDANTS SB 1019 forces disclosure of chemicals on furniture linked to firefighter cancer

hen firefighters are bat- whether the furniture they buy is still tling a structure fire, using the toxic chemicals. flames aren’t the only “Without this legislation, consumers things putting their lives would not know if their new sofa was at risk. made with those added chemicals,” said WThe interior of a business or residential Sen. Leno. “Disclosure of these chemicals fire confronts the responder with a haze of contained in consumer products serves toxic chemical inhalants, many of which the public interest, builds customer con- come from the flame retardants used on fidence and creates greater transparency upholstered furniture. These flame retar- in the marketplace.” dants seldom make a substantial difference For firefighters on the front lines, the in stopping the spread of the flames. They risks associated with the release of these do expose firefighters and fire victims to chemicals far outweigh whatever mini- chemicals that can cause cancer. mal benefit they may have slowing flames. Legislation sponsored by California The toxins released by burning or smol- Professional Firefighters this year would dering furniture attach to their turnouts shine a light on these cancer risks to first and seep through self-contained breathing responders and the citizens they serve. apparatus. Worse, during overhaul opera- Senate Bill 1019 requires specific product tions, the toxins still hanging in the air are labeling on all furniture sold in Califor- directly inhaled. nia that indicates whether chemical flame “These inhalants are a major cause of retardants were used during manufacture. death for fire victims and have been linked “For firefighters, chemical flame retar- to higher cancer rates among firefighters,” dants can make fires more dangerous, not said Paulson. less,” said CPF President Lou Paulson. For consumers, the potential cancer “Consumers need to have a full under- risk could be even greater, as they are standing of the potential health hazards exposed to the chemicals every time they posed by chemical toxins used in their sit on the couch. Studies have shown that furniture.” the concentration of these cancer-caus- The legislation, by Senator Mark Leno ing flame retardants is higher among (D-San Francisco), is a follow-up to a new children in California than in any other informed choice is especially crucial for the Consumer Federation of California. regulatory standard, backed by the IAFF state. In addition to cancer, the chemicals upholstered furniture since the decision In addition to CPF, the measure is and CPF, aimed at moving away from the have been linked to decreased fertil- intimately affects a consumer’s living space backed by a broad coalition of consumer highly toxic flame retardants and toward ity, hormone disruption, lower IQ and for a long period of time and a family’s and environmental groups, including the safer alternatives. Leno says it’s impor- hyperactivity. exposure to toxic and untested chemi- Natural Resources Defense Council and tant for consumers to be informed about “Having the ability to make an cals,” said Richard Holober, director of the Center for Environmental Health.

YOUR PROFESSION IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND The free CPF Mobile App is WORKERS’ COMPENSATION GUIDE — FIREFIGHTERS BILL OF RIGHTS — A new feature exclusively for CPF mem- your link to the California fire A full guide to your disciplinary rights in bers, the app now offers a complete pocket your pocket. service and the political and guide to last year’s groundbreaking Work- legislative decisions that will ers’ Compensation reform. MEMBER RESOURCES — essential infor- affect your life. Developed mation and links to CPF services such as for iOS and Android, the TRAINING — In conjunction with the CFF- Personal Exposure Reporting and new free app offers members JAC, the app now has essential information member services, as well as social media on training, including a set of wildland fire- links. the latest news, legislative fighting resources right at your fingertips. updates, LODD information “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on and a handy guide to the CAMPAIGN UPDATES — CPF members the CPF Mobile App and we want to make it Firefighters Bill of Rights. can register and log in for everything they as useful as possible,” said CPF President need to know about what’s at stake in the Lou Paulson. “We’re thrilled to be able to most important elections. offer this mobile application and are anx- In the latest update, CPF ious to hear your thoughts on how we can has added important new CPF FIREVISION — Follow CPF’s award- continue to make it better.” features tailored to your winning video news service right on your needs on the job: mobile device. The application is free and available in the iTunes App Store and the Android “WHERE’S THE FIRE?” — Incident infor- Marketplace. mation from around the world.

6 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

alifornia Professional AB 2126 (Rob Bonta, D-Oakland): SB 1019 (Mark Leno, D-San Francisco): Firefighters has been busy Allows mediation to be requested by This “truth in labeling,” consumer-right- working with legislators either the employer or local firefighter to-know bill coincides with the full the last few months to organization in instances where both phase-in of California’s new flame retar- introduce new proposals on parties have reached a collective bargain- dant standard (TB 117-2013) on Jan. 1, behalf of the Golden State’s ing impasse, rather than requiring that 2015. (See story, page 6) Cprofessional firefighters. Important bills both parties request mediation, which is left over from 2013 are also being shep- the current law stipulation. This bill also HOLDOVERS FROM 2013 herded through the Legislature, which clarifies that the fact-finding process can convened the second year of its two-year be invoked over the impasse of any issue The following legislation are issues that session in January. within the scope of representation. were considered in 2013 and were either In 2013, CPF sponsored or co-spon- held back another year or re-introduced: sored 15 bills, of which six were signed ACR 102 (Steve Fox, D-Palmdale): This into law and three were vetoed by Gov. bill proclaims Oct. 11, 2014 as Firefight- AB 1035 (John Pérez, D-Los Angeles): Jerry Brown. ers Memorial Day and urges Californians This bill seeks to modify the window of So far this year, CPF is sponsoring to remember firefighters who have fallen time allowed to an eligible public safety seven new bills. in the line of duty, while expressing their survivor in instances where they file a appreciation to those firefighters who con- workers’ compensation death benefit AB 1563 (Freddie Rodriguez, D-Chino): tinue to protect California and its citizens. claim after their loved one contracts a Extends to Jan. 1, 2021 the existing specified job-caused illness but succumbs state voluntary income tax contribution AB 2146 (Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley): to that occupational disease after 240 check-off for the California Firefight- This bill will help reduce the number of weeks from the date they were diag- ers Memorial Fund, as well as the Peace job-related injuries due to inadequate nosed. It is the new version of last year’s Officers Memorial Fund, both of which personal protective clothing and equip- AB 1373. are slated to sunset in 2015 and become ment by asking the state’s Occupational inoperative on Jan. 1, 2016 unless this bill Safety and Health Standards Board to SB 388 (Ted Lieu, D-Torrance): Since is enacted. consider reviewing existing state stan- the enactment of the Firefighters Bill of dards for a firefighter’s gear and consider Rights (FBOR), some employers have AB 2378 (Henry Perea, D-Fresno): This updating those standards to comply with tried to circumvent the spirit and intent of bill overrides a 2013 appellate court deci- new National Fire Protection Association FBOR’s due process protections. Specifi- sion, which required “4850 Time” to be standards. cally, this bill applies the representation, counted toward a firefighter’s 104 weeks notification, interview and per- of temporary disability in instances where AB 2438 (Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long sonnel file access rights to a they are injured on the job. The decision Beach): This bill clarifies that fire appara- firefighter in instances where has resulted in slashing a firefighter’s dis- tus driver training may be conducted by a they are being questioned or ability protection by up to 50 percent and firefighter who possesses a Class C driver’s interrogated, even if they aren’t this bill would correct that. license with a firefighter endorsement. the subject of an investigation.

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 7 PENSION SLASHING BALLOT INITIATIVE: DEAD OR ONLY SLEEPING? Reed Withdraws Retirement Rollback Measure for 2014, But Says He’ll Be Back VENTURA MEASURE B ON STEROIDS COUNTY FACES Introduced to much fanfare among pension foes, PENSION Reed’s ballot measure sought to bring the same sweeping rollbacks to retirement security he’d succeeded in passing in his home city. Like San Jose's Measure B, PRIVATIZATION the initiative would have essentially nullified the so- called “California Rule,” a legal standard that basically FIGHT says once a pension promise is made to an employee, it can’t be unmade. n ominous new attack on the founda- Despite several big money backers, Reed's campaign tions of firefighter retirement security ran into trouble when the truth set in. The non-par- has been launched in Ventura County. tisan legislative analyst, concluded that it offered A A proposed countywide ballot ini- potential long-term savings but also potential initial tiative circulated during the spring seeks to costs of “hundreds of millions to possibly billions of close down secure pensions for every new pub- dollars.” The attorney general’s title and summary lic employee and substitute a risky 401(k)-style accurately described the measure’s key feature: the system that could potentially cost employees and elimination of vested pension rights for teachers, fire- employers millions. fighters, nurses and other public workers. “We believe that their goal is to shut down In an effort to salvage his faltering plan, Reed and public pension systems, beginning with (county his allies challenged the ballot language in court, systems like ours) and privatize them,” said CPF claiming that it would prejudice voters. In mid-March, 2nd District Vice President Chris Mahon, presi- a Sacramento judge ruled that the ballot language was dent of Ventura County Firefighters Local 1364. not deceptive, and rejected the challenge, effectively Under the plan, which is targeted for the closing the door on a 2014 statewide pension initiative. November ballot, all new employees would “This court decision simply affirms what Reed and immediately be shunted into the privatized his allies have already acknowledged: the real pur- retirement plan. Existing employees would pose of this attack is to eliminate the constitutional continue to be covered under the county’s exist- vested retirement rights of teachers, firefighters, public ing pension plan. The architects of the Ventura hen lame-duck San Jose Mayor Chuck safety officers and other public employees,” said CPF County initiative are a collection of anti-tax Reed set out to “reform” retirement secu- President Lou Paulson. activists including the California chapter of rity, he claimed that it was “time to tell Americans for Prosperity, a group financed by the truth” about pensions. the anti-labor Koch brothers from Kansas. WIt turns out Chuck Reed can’t handle the truth. NO TIME TO RELAX The proposal is similar to several others which Facing a suspicious electorate and a ballot summary have been proposed but withdrawn in other that was a little too accurate for his taste, Reed has sus- The decision guaranteed there won’t be a pension cities, notably Los Angeles, because of their pended signature gathering on his “Broken Promises” initiative on the statewide ballot in 2014. While this potentially catastrophic costs. Without new pension initiative. The proposal would have eliminated is a victory for CPF and other defenders of retire- employees paying into the system, most financial vested pension benefits for millions of existing employ- ment security, it may be only a temporary one. Reed analysts concede the cost of the existing system ees and force employers and employees to pay a steep told the Sacramento Press Club he had not given up would steadily rise to unsustainable levels. penalty just to get the pension they were promised. on the idea and planned to try again for the ballot “If this initiative were to pass, the cost of the Reed’s decision to pull back came after the state in 2016. current pension system would skyrocket,” said attorney general issued the official title and summary “We have not stopped working on this,” he told the Mahon. “That would fall not just on employees, of the proposal, along with the financial summary Sacramento Press Club. “We will not give up.” but the employer, meaning deeper cuts in public from the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. In the meantime, the battleground on pensions safety and other critical services.” The descriptions laid bare the measure’s impact on has temporarily shifted to local government. Local The Ventura pension proposal has generated retirement security for public workers, as well as its bankruptcy agreements in Vallejo and Stockton have strong backlash even among those who have potential billion-dollar price tag. been attacked as being “insufficient” and a Koch- advocated retirement rollbacks. All but one of With polls showing voters unsympathetic to the backed political action committee in Ventura County the county’s board of supervisors is on record idea of breaking pension promises, Reed’s hand was is working to qualify a pension privatization initia- opposing it, citing the cost and the potential forced. Claiming that the attorney general’s state- tive (See “Ventura Co. Faces Pension Privatization talent drain it could create. A wide-ranging coali- ment was biased, Reed sought a court ruling on the Fight”). Cheerleading all of these efforts is the League tion has also formed to fight the measure, led by language, but also pulled back on the 2014 initiative. of California Cities, which has made “pension reform” Ventura County’s firefighters and law enforce- “It’s a judgment call at this point,” Reed told San one of its top priorities. ment and a strong opposition campaign is being Jose Inside. “I don’t know if it’s impossible, but it’s cer- “Our opponents aren’t relaxing,” Paulson said, “so organized should the measure qualify. tainly impractical.” we can’t afford to stop fighting either.” “The consequences of this passing are just too great,” said Mahon. “We can’t afford to lose.”

8 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS 2014 STATE LEGISLATIVE ENDORSEMENTS AS OF MARCH 4, 2014

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES Lieutenant Governor: Gavin Newsom Secretary of State: Alex Padilla Attorney General: Kamala Harris State Controller: John Pérez STATE ASSEMBLY AD01 – Brian Dahle (R)-Inc AD37 – Das Williams (D)-Inc AD73 – Anna Bryson (R)-Open State Treasurer: John Chiang AD02 – Jim Wood (D)-Open AD38 – Scott Wilk (R)-Inc AD74 – Neutral-Open Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones AD03 – James Gallagher (R)-Open AD39 – Raul Bocanegra (D)-Inc AD75 – Marie Waldron (R)-Inc AD04 – Dan Wolk (D)-Open AD40 – Marc Steinorth (R)-Open AD76 – Rocky Chavez (R)-Inc Board of Equalization 01: Chris Parker AD05 – Frank Bigelow (R)-Inc AD41 – Chris Holden (D)-Inc AD77 – Brian Maienschein (R)-Inc Board of Equalization 02: Fiona Ma AD06 – No Endorsement AD42 – Neutral-Open AD78 – Toni Atkins (D)-Inc AD07 – Kevin McCarty (D)-Open AD43 – Mike Gatto (D)-Inc AD79 – Shirley Weber (D)-Inc Board of Equalization 03: Jerome Horton AD08 – Ken Cooley (D)-Inc AD44 – Jaqui Irwin (D)-Open AD80 – Lorena Gonzalez (D)-Inc Board of Equalization 04: No Endorsement AD09 – Darrell Fong (D)-Open AD45 – Matt Dababneh (D)-Inc AD10 – No Endorsement AD46 – Adrin Nazarian (D)-Inc AD11 – Jim Frazier (D)-Inc AD47 – Cheryl Brown (D)-Inc AD12 – Kristin Olsen (R)-Inc AD48 – Roger Hernandez (D)-Inc STATE SENATE AD13 – Susan Eggman (D)-Inc AD49 – Ed Chau (D)-Inc. SD02 – Mike McGuire (D)-Open AD14 – Susan Bonilla (D)-Inc AD50 – Richard Bloom (D)-Inc SD04 – No Endorsement U.S. HOUSE (ENDORSEMENTS FROM IAFF) AD15 – Tony Thurmond (D)-Open AD51 – Jimmy Gomez (D)-Inc SD06 – Neutral-Open CD02 – Jared Huffman (D) CD30 – Brad Sherman (D) AD16 – Tim Sbranti (D)-Open AD52 – Freddie Rodriguez (D)-Inc. AD53 – Miguel Santiago (D)-Open CD03 – John Garamendi (D) CD31 – Pete Aguilar (D) AD17 – David Chiu (D)-Open SD08 – No Endorsement AD18 – Rob Bonta (D)-Inc AD54 – Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D)-Inc CD05 – Mike Thompson (D) CD32 – Grace Napolitano (D) SD10 – Robert Wieckowski (D)-Open AD19 – Phil Ting (D)-Inc AD55 – Ling-Ling Chang (R)-Open CD06 – Doris Matsui (D) CD34 – Xavier Becerra (D) SD12 – Anthony Canella (R)-Inc AD20 – Bill Quirk (D)-Inc AD56 – Eduardo Garcia (D)-Open CD07 – Ami Bera (D) CD36 – Raul Ruiz (D) AD21 – Adam Gray (D)-Inc AD57 – Ian Calderon (D)-Inc SD14 – Neutral CD08 – Paul Cook (R) CD37 – Karen Bass (D) AD22 – Kevin Mullin (D)-Inc AD58 – Cristina Garcia (D)-Inc SD16 – No Endorsement CD09 – Jerry McNerney (D) CD38 – Linda Sánchez (D) AD23 – Jim Patterson (R)-Inc AD59 – Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D)-Inc SD18 – Robert Hertzberg (D)-Open CD11 – Mark DeSalunier (D) CD40 – Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) AD24 – Rich Gordon (D)-Inc AD60 – Eric Linder (R)-Inc SD20 – Connie Leyva (D)-Open CD12 – Nancy Pelosi (D) CD41 – Mark Takano (D) AD25 – Kansen Chu (D)-Open AD61 – Jose Medina (D)-Inc SD22 – Ed Hernandez (D)-Inc CD13 – Barbara Lee (D) CD42 – Ken Calvert (R) AD26 – Rudy Mendoza (R)-Open AD62 – Autumn Burke (D)-Open SD24 – Kevin De Leon (D)-Inc AD27 – Nora Campos (D)-Inc AD63 – Anthony Rendon (D)-Inc CD15 – Eric Swalwell (D) CD43 – Maxine Waters (D) SD26 – Betsy Butler (D)-Open CD16 – Jim Costa (D) CD44 – Janice Hahn (D) AD28 – Evan Low (D)-Open AD64 – Neutral-Open SD28 – Bonnie Garcia (R)-Open CD17 – Mike Honda (D) CD46 – Loretta Sanchez (D) AD29 – Mark Stone (D)-Inc AD65 – Sharon Quirk-Silva (D)-Inc AD66 – Al Muratsuchi (D)-Inc CD19 – Zoe Lofgren (D) CD47 – Alan Lowenthal (D) AD30 – Luis Alejo (D)-Inc SD30 – Holly Mitchell (D)-Inc AD31 – Henry Perea (D)-Inc AD67 – Melissa Melendez (R)-Inc CD24 – Lois Capps (D) CD50 – Duncan Hunter, Jr. (R) SD32 – Tony Mendoza (D)-Open AD32 – Rudy Salas (D)-Inc AD68 – No Endorsement SD34 – Neutral-Open CD26 – Julia Brownley (D) CD51 – Juan Vargas (D) AD33 – Rick Roelle (D)-Open AD69 – Tom Daly (D)-Inc CD27 – Judy Chu (D) CD52 – Scott Peters (D) AD34 – No Endorsement AD70 – Patrick O’Donnell (D)-Open SD36 – Patricia Bates (R)-Open CD28 – Adam Schiff (D) CD53 – Susan Davis (D) AD35 – Katcho Achadjian (R)-Inc AD71 – No Endorsement SD38 – No Endorsement CD29 – Tony Cardenas (D) AD36 – Steve Fox (D)-Inc AD72 – No Endorsement SD40 – Ben Hueso (D)-Inc

YES ON PROPOSITION 41 YES ON PROPOSITION 42 VETERANS HOUSING BOND ACT THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT Why it matters to firefighters: Open access to local government meetings and records is essential What it does: Allocates $600 million in bond funds already approved What it does: Proposition 42 is a common sense to holding your employer accountable, whether by voters to provide multifamily housing for low-income and home- accountability and government reform measure it’s in the bargaining process or the court of public less veterans who have honorably served our nation. Does not create to guarantee the rights of citizens to participate opinion. Public records requests let your local new taxes or new debt. in local government meetings and get access to uncover corrupt management practices and help critical public information about what their govern- keep them honest on critical fiscal issues affecting Why it’s needed: Thousands of young men and women are return- ment is doing with taxpayer money. It makes it a your life and livelihood. Open meeting laws flush ing from overseas conflicts, some returning with no homes or jobs constitutional requirement that local governments out municipal efforts to privatize or contract local waiting for them. Prop. 41 helps get them the housing, job training follow the state’s most important open meeting and services and force elected officials to be on the and rehabilitation they need without increasing taxes or the overall public records laws. record in full view of the voters. state debt. Why it’s needed: The Brown Open Meetings Act Bottom line: California’s open meeting and public Why it matters to firefighters: Firefighters are among those return- and the California Public Records Act protect the records law protect the citizens’ right to know what ing vets who have served honorably and may need help readjusting to public’s right to participate in, and keep tabs on, government is doing. Prop. 42 locks these vital stateside life. Like firefighters, veterans are on the front lines protect- local government activities. Cities, counties and transparency laws into our constitution and ensures ing our nation. They deserve support in making a difficult transition. school districts have tried to use recent laws as an that local governments can’t use budget excuses to excuse to avoid complying with open meeting and hide their secrets from the public or their employees. Bottom line: Firefighters stand with our veterans as surely as they public records laws. Prop. 42 locks in the state’s stand with each other. open government laws, ensuring that local govern- CPF RECOMMENDS: YES ON PROP. 42 ments will not be able to poormouth their way out of Common Sense Reform to Ensure Government CPF RECOMMENDS: YES ON PROP. 41 this basic function. Accountability

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 9 n the first day of the 2005- CLEAN SWEEP: 2006 California Legislative CPF President Lou session, a back-bench GOP Paulson celebrates assemblyman named Keith the defeat of all four Richman introduced a con- special-interest ballot Ostitutional amendment to privatize the proposals in 2005 entire public employee pension system. special election. Richman was an unlikely candidate to touch off a $130 million ballot war. But he did. Newly elected in a controversial recall campaign, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger embraced Richman’s pension proposal, making it part of his “reform agenda” ticketed for a November 2005 special election. Lurking within the expansive pension-slashing proposal was a devastat- ing poison pill: its sweeping provisions also eliminated ongoing survivor benefits for the families of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. “No single action could have done more to galvanize firefighters,” recalled CPF President Lou Paulson. “Once it became clear that the survivors of our fallen could lose their pensions, our members were all in.” Almost immediately, CPF members became the public face of the opposition to the governor’s agenda. Sign-carrying

2002 California Firefighters Memorial unveiled, capping ten-year quest.

2001 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS CPF organizes “California Day of Remembrance” to 2004 - honor victims of Daniel A. Terry retires; 2000 2014 9/11 attacks Lou Paulson elected president of CPF Through triumph and tragedy, California Professional Firefighters has maintained a steady, strong voice for the needs and concerns of firefighters and their families. As it stood at the forefront of innovation in training and legislation, CPF was also a tireless and forceful 2000 2005 political force, helping to defeat efforts to tear away protections decades in the making. As it 2000 2003 hit its 75th anniversary, CPF demonstrated the CPF 2nd District VP John CFFJAC wins grant Tennant named as State Fire for first post-9/11 power of strength through solidarity. Marshal, following selection fire-based terrorism of former Secretary-Treasurer response training, Dallas Jones as OES director. Terrorism Consequence Management 10 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Ex-Alhambra Firefighters President Bob D’Ausilio (left, in white t-shirt) sums up how California firefighters felt about “The Governator” in 2005.

firefighters led visible protests at Schwar- deception” proposal was defeated. Paulson zenegger’s public events – a level of became a key strategic voice for firefight- activist defiance not seen among fire- ers in the Alliance for a Better California, fighters since the public safety strikes of the statewide campaign operation formed resulting campaign came to be framed members speaking directly and earnestly the 1970s. “Chasing Arnold” became the to defeat the Schwarzenegger power grab. as an attack by Schwarzenegger on the to voters. catchphrase for the relentless pursuit of In May, CPF held a special convention most popular public servants – firefight- When Election Night rolled around, the governor. at which delegates authorized an unprec- ers, nurses, teachers and law enforcement the rout was on. Voters swept aside all four In April 2005, Schwarzenegger blinked edented dues assessment to wage the fight officers. Firefighters continued to “Chase of Schwarzenegger’s initiatives, including on pensions, announcing he was with- both within the membership and in the Arnold” everywhere he went. Schwar- Proposition 75. “Arnold was completely drawing his privatization measure, but public. At the same time, CPF helped zenegger was further embarrassed in repudiated by the people of California,” the fight over the rest of the governor’s mobilize the Alliance’s Action Day for October when it was revealed they had reported longtime California political agenda was far from over. The most con- California, a massive rally of more than been ordered to stand with him at a fire expert Tony Quinn. troversial element of his plan was to ban 20,000 union members, all marching scene against their will. Humbled, the governor sent much of public workers from exercising their polit- at the Capitol against Schwarzenegger’s Financially, labor went "all-in" on the his political team packing, helping him ical rights through dedicated union dues efforts. campaign. Anchored by the well-financed secure reelection the following year. The contributions – a plan that came to be In June, Schwarzenegger announced California Teachers Association, total 2005 “Chasing Arnold” campaign also set known as “paycheck deception.” that he’d secured enough signatures to spending against the four Schwarzenegger the stage for a détente with Schwarzeneg- As the fight escalated, CPF became a qualify four “reform” measures. For CPF, measures topped $130 million. FireStar ger, who eventually signed the Firefighters central part of the campaign to defeat it, as the focus was squarely on Proposition 75, Studios created polished and effective Bill of Rights and the Dallas Jones Cancer it had in 1998 when an earlier “paycheck the initiative to slash union dues. The TV and radio spots, many featuring CPF Presumption Act.

2008 Schwarzenegger signs Dallas Jones Cancer

Non-Waiver Statement Presumption Act, extending statute of Knowing Your Rights Can 2011 If you’re compelled to make a statement or Save Your Job. answer questions in violation of your right limitations on presumptive cancer. CPF-led legislative to representation or any of the rights listed If you find you’re being asked questions above, demand that it be recorded and effort unwinds corrupt that might result in disciplinary action or read the following: criminal prosecution: I am making this statement involuntarily, redevelopment system, in compliance with a direct order 1. Ask if you are at risk of disciplinary made under penalty of sanction and/or Know action. termination. In compelling my statement pouring billions back 2. Ask for union representation before without representation, you are in responding to any questions. violation of the California Government Your Rights into local general fund 3. Insist that any statement be tape Code, Sections 3250 through 3262, and are subject to civil penalties prescribed by 2007 recorded. The Firefighters law. I do not waive any of my rights under budgets. 4. Don’t volunteer to take a this law, our current union contract, any Procedural Bill of Rights CPF wins three- niversar lie-detector, alcohol or drug test. other local, state or federal law, or my An y 5. Don’t reveal any personal financial right to remain silent under the Fifth and decade fight 2010 information without a court Fourteenth Amendments of the United Courtesy of: order. States Constitution. with approval of Jerry Brown elected 6. Make note of physical or verbal California Professional Firefighters CALIFORNIA abuse, threats, extortion or any 1780 Creekside Oaks, Suite 200 PROFESSIONAL Firefighters Bill governor again. other attempt to compel your Sacramento, CA 95833 FIREFIGHTERS • [email protected] answers. (916) 921-9111 www.cpf.org of Rights 2013 CPF marks 75th anniversary

2010 2015

2005 2009 2012 CPF’s “Chasing Arnold” California Firefighter CPF holds Special campaign targets Gov. Endowment created Convention to authorize Arnold Schwarzenegger’s to help support early funding against Prop. attempt to privatize college scholarships 32, new attempt to silence pensions and silence for children of fallen firefighters’ voice. Initiative firefighters’ political voice. firefighters is defeated in November. All were defeated.CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 11 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS 2013 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

1ST PLACE MIKE MEADOWS

Mike Meadows is a freelance photographer who spent more than 30 years as a photojournalist with the Los Angeles Times. Breaking news events he has covered include the Oakland Hills Fire, the Northridge Earthquake and, most recently, the Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park

“The fire had control of the third floor and the attic space. Truck companies using roof ladders had several holes opened. I could see smoke starting to come out of the hole and getting thicker and thicker. I thought I might see some fire start coming out of the hole and did I ever. The captain saw this too and had his men start down the roof to a safe position. As the captain turned to leave, that’s when I got the shot as the flames were now about 10 to 15 feet above his head.”

HONORABLE MENTION 1. Shad Hopkins 2. Kevin Merrill 3. Mike Meadows 4. Jeff Lindgren 5. Jeff Zimmerman 6. Sean Wilson 7. Rick McClure

12 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 2ND PLACE BRANDY CARLOS

Brandy Carlos started as a volunteer photographer in 2012 and is employed by CAL FIRE at the Riverside County Fire Training Bureau. She has specialized training and experience in photography and has used her background to capture all aspects of the fire service. “The image of a liquid petroleum gas firefighting training exercise was taken in October at the Moreno Valley College Basic Firefighter Academy. These trainings are always fun because this was for family night, which allows the friends and family of the academy students to come out and see what they’ve learned.”

RD Daniel Piedlow has been a 3 PLACE firefighter for 23 years and is an engineer with the San DANIEL PIEDLOW Bernardino County Fire Department. He’s been a serious amateur photographer for decades.

“I normally start taking pictures after the initial rush of first- on-scene ‘hectics’ are done. At this fire in Adelanto, I had finished taking pictures of the guys working and was (walking toward the engine) when I saw the shot. It was dusk and there were rain clouds coming in.”

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 Tim Strack st CPF 1 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 1 represents the counties of San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial and Orange. 1st SAN DIEGO FIREFIGHTERS LOOK TOWARD COUNCIL SUPERMAJORITY

an Diego City Firefighters Local DeMaio because we knew how destruc- 145 didn’t spend long licking tive he’d be for firefighters,” said DeClerq. their wounds after hard line anti- The victory over DeMaio was soured firefighter councilman Kevin when Filner, a former 10-term member of FaulconerS was elected mayor in a mid- Congress, was forced out of office under February special runoff election. the weight of a sexual harassment scandal Faulconer’s vacant council seat is one that was national news. After Filner’s res- of two contested races in which Local 145 ignation, the city’s power brokers focused is intent on making a stand in the June 3 on Faulconer. primary in hopes of neutralizing the new Nicknamed “The Butler” by his polit- anti-firefighter mayor with a veto-proof ical foes, Faulconer adopted a strategy majority. hinging on attacking Fletcher, a mod- “We’ve moved on to two vital council erate former Assemblyman who had races in District 2 and District 6,” said recently switched from Republican to Local 145 President Frank DeClercq. independent. Faulconer’s patrons spent “We’ve endorsed Carol Kim in District hundreds of thousands of dollars tearing 6 and Sarah Boot in District 2. Now we down Fletcher in hopes of getting Alvarez need to get our members excited again and to rise to the top. The plan worked, and start doing some walking.” with labor’s support splintered, Faulconer Last November, Faulconer and San had an easy time at the polls. Diego City Councilman David Alvarez “We spent $100,000 for Fletcher and were the top two vote getters in a special later spent some money on positive ads CORONA AUTO-X: First responders from as far away as North election held to replace Bob Filner, who for Alvarez, but Fletcher was our pick and Carolina participate in the 37th Annual Auto-X, a three-day auto resigned as mayor amid sexual harass- we knew he could beat Faulconer,” said extrication seminar sponsored by Corona Firefighters Association ment allegations. The original field of 12 DeClercq “It was sad that the other labor Local 3757. The training exercise gives firefighters the latest training that included Nathan Fletcher, a former groups couldn’t get behind Fletcher.” on effectively and safely separating accident victims from vehicles. Marines Corps officer, who had the back- Putting a Democrat into Faulconer’s ing of Local 145. seat would give the firefighters, and labor Fletcher finished third in race, just three in general, a 6-3 super majority, DeClerq points behind Alvarez, who had the back- said. If both Boot and Kim get elected ing of other labor groups. In the runoff, they’ll have a 7-2 advantage and Faulconer labor came together to back Alvarez, but would effectively be neutered despite hold- Faulconer won by almost six points in ing the gavel at city council meetings. February’s runoff. Boot, a federal prosecutor, has a strong “A couple of years ago Faulconer gave public safety stand while Lorie Zapf, us firefighters, police and lifeguards his her opponent in the race, is seen as a word that we would never be required to Faulconer and his high-roller patrons. go to a 401(k) or another investment pen- A teacher, Kim’s toughest opponent will sion tool and he said we all deserved our be Republican Chris Cate, the vice presi- defined benefits,” DeClerq said. “We took dent of the San Diego County Taxpayers him at his word, but within three weeks Association and a former Faulconer staffer. he sold us out.” “We really have to step our game,” The turn of events has been frustrat- DeClerq said. “I tell our guys all the time ing for Local 145, which won a smashing that if you can’t count to five (a major- victory in the 2012 contest. Adopting ity) you better get ready to be taken to Photo by Lee Calkins, courtesy of Ontario Reign a political strategy aptly nicknamed the woodshed and that’s where we’ll go A.B.C.D. for “Anyone But Carl DeMaio” if I can’t get (enough members) to give ONTARIO FIRE AND ICE: Ontario and L.A. City firefighters battle for the Local was successful in defeating the some of their personal time to walk pre- the puck in Ontario Firefighters Local 1430’s annual “Fire on Ice” harshly conservative councilman in the cincts. We don’t use paid walkers like the charity hockey game. The inter-departmental tussle netted some San Diego mayor’s race. “We doubled-up Lincoln Club. People need to see firefight- bruised hips and swollen lips, along with $14,000 for the MS Society. on our dues and spent $1 million to defeat ers out there.”

14 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Chris Mahon nd CPF 2 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 2 represents the counties of Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles - with the exception of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 and Los Angeles County Fire nd Fighters Local 1014. 2 GRANT-WRITING COURSE HELPS OXNARD ocean rescue swimmer saved a young boy FIREFIGHTERS SECURE MILLIONS who was being swept away by a rip current in the Pacific Ocean near Ventura. hen its city council Jeff Donabedian said. “We’ve been able and within a short time, was winning Hamilton also helped Local 1684 start couldn’t (or wouldn’t) to get 24 new firefighters and actually got millions of dollars for Oxnard, a city of a non-profit, 501(c)3, called the Oxnard hire a grant writer, a grant that in turn helped us purchase a 200,000 along the Pacific Coast. Firefighters Foundation Inc. The Founda- Oxnard City Firefighters new ladder truck.” “Winning these grants is huge for us tion has enabled the group to access many Local 1684 didn’t grum- Donabedian said his local has gone politically," said Hamilton. "When we more funding sources including from Wble about it. They did something about it. about the job quietly, not raising the issue got the SAFER grants we went to the city private foundations and organizations. The local union spent thousands of dol- in the news media even though they’re council and told them ‘we just saved you It was one such grant request Hamilton lars training a couple of members to write taking on a job normally handled by the $3 million, now buy us a ladder truck,' authored earlier this year that secured grants and since 2006, they’ve secured city itself. But he believes the citizens in and they did.” $100,000 to teach disadvantaged Oxnard approximately $10 million in grants for his community are safer and that his local Because of his acumen with the tedious youth how to swim. staffing, training and apparatus purchases, is just following through on Oxnard’s job of grant writing, as well as many other “Creating the 501(c)3 has opened up a including $3 million through the federal motto: “The City That Cares.” attributes, Hamilton was selected as the whole new world for us,” Hamilton said. Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Local 1684 Secretary-Treasurer Alex 2013 City of Oxnard Employee of the “Now we’re able to do more stuff for the Response (SAFER) program. Hamilton has been the main workhorse, Year. In 2010, he was named the Oxnard fire department plus it raises our profile in “We recognized the need and took care Donabedian said, in writing the grants. Fire Department Firefighter of the Year. the community and with elected officials.” of the problem,” Local 1684 President Hamilton took the grant-writing course Last summer while off-duty, the certified

CITYGATE SETS SIGHTS ON SANTA BARBARA AIRPORT

itygate Associates bills itself as a fire and emergency services company specializing in the “business of better govern- Cment.” That usually means firefighters are demonized and Citygate usually recommends merger statements that cost jobs. So when the Folsom-based company recently won a $34,000 contract from Santa Barbara to study the economic fea- sibility of the city’s airport, Santa Barbara City Firefighters Local 525 went on alert. The airport encompasses more than 500 acres of general aviation use and hosts five major airlines that serve 750,000 pas- sengers annually. It’s protected by a single Santa Barbara Fire Department firehouse, Station 8, that’s staffed by three platoons, each with a captain and two engineers. Citygate has sent a survey to similar- “What they’ll probably try to do is Patrick McElroy, a 33-year Santa Barbara staffing reductions to the Santa Barbara sized airports to gather information on what Santa Maria did with their airport Fire Department veteran who has risen City Council. those Airport Rescue and Firefighting – shut it down from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” through the ranks and is a former Local “I sat on the interview panel because costs, staffing levels and equipment Pighetti said. "But we provide 24-hour 525 President. McElroy oversees a the city manager was very open to us needs. Once the survey is completed, a service and if they change the way we department of 95 firefighters, eight fire being involved in the hiring process,” draft report is expected sometime in May. operate it could become a nightmare. I stations and the airport rescue and fire- said Pighetti, a training captain with Local 525 President Tony Pighetti isn’t don’t know what our options are.” fighting operation. SBFD. “We were very happy when they expecting the report to say more firefight- Pighetti said the local enjoys a fan- Pighetti said he believes McElroy chose one of our own. I think he knows ers should be hired. tastic relationship with the fire chief, won’t roll over if Citygate recommends our concerns.”

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 15 Bobby Weist CPF 3rd District Vice President CPF District 3 represents the counties of Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, DISTRICT REPORT Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Mendocino, Tehama, Plumas, Lake, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Sierra, Yolo, Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Amador, rd Calaveras, Alpine, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono, Merced, Mariposa, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Nevada, Tulare and Inyo. 3 LOCAL 1289 STAYS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AMID FIRE AUTHORITY MANAGEMENT SHAKE UP

or the citizens living in “We knew that it was just politics and Modesto officials have chafed at having to authority’s future. According to media and around Modesto, the our chief wasn’t being given a fair shake share governance with agencies that pro- reports, dissolving the fire authority is transition to a regional fire and ability to do his job,” said Local 1289 vide a relatively small percentage of the a definite possibility, a move that could protection system has been President Jair Juarez. “It says a lot about department’s $32 million budget. leave Salida’s citizens without some of the marked by management him when a chief who’s been on the job a Bradley’s departure adds to the uncer- services currently provided through the turnover and jurisdictional short time gets that’s much respect from tainty, as it once again left the authority JPA connection with Modesto. concerns. the firefighters.” without a permanent fire chief. “It all depends on what Salida wants FThrough the uncertain times, there The show of support worked, as the Juarez says the intrigues are frustrat- to do,” Juarez said. “If the MRFA breaks has been one constant: the stability and board voted 3-0 to retain Bradley. But ing, but he believes the most appropriate up then the Salida Fire Department will resolve of Modesto’s front line firefighters. less than three months later, the chief course of action for the local is to remain have to recruit. Because it’s such a small This past January, approximately 50 had moved on to take a job as chief of the focused on ensuring that the region has community, they might not be able to members of Modesto City Firefighters Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department. the proper level of fire protection to fit afford the level of service we can provide Local 1289 showed up at several special “He just said that he didn’t think he could the needs of the region, particularly the by working regionally. At the end of the meetings of the Modesto Regional Fire fulfill his duties with everything that had smaller, rural communities such as Salida. day, it’s about keeping the citizens safe.” Authority. They were there to stand up gone on,” said Juarez. “The people in Salida and in our rural As for its departed chief, Juarez for MRFA fire Chief Randall Bradley, The fire authority was formed in 2011 communities need and deserve our best, believes that Modesto’s loss is Stanislaus who had been asked to resign after just when the Modesto Fire Department, the and we think the combined fire author- Consolidated’s gain. “(Chief Bradley) six months on the job. Stanislaus County fire warden’s office and ity gives them that quality of service,” came to us right away and said he wanted Bradley, who came to lead MRFA after the Salida Fire Protection District signed said Juarez. to work with us,” Juarez said. “From four years as chief of the Moraga-Orinda a joint-powers agreement. The JPA called Its ability to preserve that covenant Day One, he was open, especially for a Fire District in Contra Costa County, for a board of directors consisting of one with its citizens could hinge on how chief. I am confident he’ll take the same earned the respect of the firefighters by representative from each agency. That gov- things go at a MRFA board meeting approach with our brothers and sisters being open and receptive to the needs of ernance model is one of several challenges scheduled for May 7. The board has in Stanislaus Consolidated.” the rank-and-file. that the fledgling authority has faced, as asked for proposals and plans for the fire

MOUNTAIN HOUSE TERMINATES TRACY RURAL FPD CONTRACT

he small planned commu- The South County Fire Authority the OK to begin a request for proposal “CAL FIRE is out. Alameda County nity of Mountain House (SCFA) was formed in 1999 when the (RFP) process to provide a service Tracy (Fire Department) is out. East Contra near Tracy is barely a decade Tracy Fire Department merged with Fire Chief Al Nero estimates currently Costa (Fire Protection District) is out,” old but its community service the Tracy Rural Fire Protection District costs $2.3 million. Fell said. “The next closest is Stockton and district board has apparently and when the first residents moved into "Once we heard from (the CSD) about nobody there is interested in providing decided to play “Chicken” Mountain House in 2003 the fire service this RFP, they immediately started attack- service so far away.” Twith its fire protection. contract was already in effect. Many of ing us for charging too much," said Joel Fell said McClintock wants to whittle Acting on the direction of its new Mountain House’s 8,000 residents com- Fell, treasurer for Local 3355. "Their new the contract down to about $1 million a general manager, the Mountain House mute to jobs in the Bay Area. GM (McClintock) said her only choice year yet still wants a three-person ALS Community Service District board voted Claiming that it was paying a dispro- was to terminate and not renegotiate.” engine available at all times. Fell said that’s unanimously last September to terminate portion amount of Tracy’s fire budget, Mountain House is approximately five not going to happen, and Chief Nero has its contract with the Tracy Rural Fire Mountain House CSD General Manager miles northwest of Tracy in San Joaquin told the Local that the department is not Protection District, which is under the Janice McClintock engineered the board County and pushes against the borders of going to go backwards. South County Fire Authority. Tracy City vote to terminate the contract with the Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Fell “At this point we don’t know how our Firefighters Local 3355 represent Tracy SCFA in 2015, triggering the two-year said he doesn’t expect departments or fire members will be affected,” Fell said. “But Rural FPD firefighters as well as those in “heads-up” requirement in the CSD’s protection districts in those countries to we’re trying to stay ahead of this.” the city of Tracy. contract. In February, McClintock got respond to the RFP.

16 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Randy Sekany th CPF 4 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 4 represents the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. 4 th Ray said his department provided a cache of firefighting equipment that rested LEVI’S STADIUM TO BE on pallets during the bulk of the exterior construction and could be raised and low- ered to whatever level workers were using GOOD FIT FOR SANTA hot tar or fireproofing materials. “The job box had 600 feet of two-and- a-half inch hose plus attack lines and extra CLARA FIREFIGHTERS SCBA bottles, so we had protection available to workers and our first-responders eremy Ray says there shouldn’t authority will pick up the overtime pay of in case anything happened early on in the be any difficulty in getting the firefighters who staff stadium events construction phases,” Ray said. “But now members of Santa Clara City so regular department operations will not the standpipes are hooked up and there’s Firefighters Local 1171 to work be adversely affected.” no need for the job boxes.” overtime staffing events at the Santa Clara City Firefighters will pro- A new communications system also has Jnew $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium when it vide service in the parking areas on the been installed nearby at a cost of $3 mil- opens in August. squad the stadium authority purchased. lion. The system coordinates police and The new home of the San Francisco There will be a two- or three-person crew fire response at the stadium and through- 49ers will play host to the San Jose Earth- on the squad, which includes a paramedic out the city. The City of Santa Clara is quakes Major League Soccer game on for advanced life support, if needed. picking up the bulk of the cost with the August 2nd and the 49ers will play their Ray said the local’s involvement in the Santa Clara Stadium Authority chipping first preseason game at the shiny new sta- staffing models goes back to 2005, well Santa Clara City Firefighters Local 1171 in $560,000. dium a couple of days later. Add to that the before ground was broken on the stadium President J.D. Madden and member Over the next few months, as construc- chance to see some major music acts when adjacent to the California’s Great America Beverly Molina participate in rescue drills tion moves mostly indoors, Ray said Santa not attending to injured fans and Ray said amusement park. Staffing for professional at Levi’s Stadium, the new home of the Clara City firefighters expect to get some the sign-up list will fill up fast. firefighters was included in the original San Francisco 49ers. familiarization training done inside the Rock Medicine will continue to pro- term sheet, Ray said. stadium. vide the initial medical response at 49ers Stadium construction continues at used was the most the project manager for “We’ve done walk-throughs to pre-plan games to any calls inside Levi’s Stadium a rapid pace. Some major differences the metal decking, thermal insulation and and drilled with some crane operators with Santa Clara City firefighters taking between the new Levi’s Stadium and fire-proofing sub-contractor had ever seen. on the massive scoreboards,” Ray said. over if the fan is seriously injured or in the Candlestick Park, where the 49ers have Rich Boyd, project manager for “Hopefully we’ll get to do more high- event of a large-scale incident, said Ray, played since 1971, include a concourse Anning-Johnson, a stadium subcontrac- angle rescue training as well as some mass Local 1171’s secretary who works at a sta- that is almost 50 feet wider than the one tor, told 49ers.com that Levi’s Stadium casualty training. But we’ll get through tion just a mile away from the stadium. at Candlestick. This will make for a much required 11 pumps running continuously the first season and then reassess the pos- “Our members will have the opportu- easier time transporting injured fans, Ray for two days to spray the fireproofing sibilities. This is a unique opportunity for nity to work overtime , probably in teams said. Construction materials were used to material onto the steel beams. The pre- our members because not everyone has a that will rotate in and out of the stadium make the stadium as earthquake resistant vious largest job Boyd said he’d been on new billion-dollar stadium to work and with the crowds,” Ray said. “The stadium as possible and the fireproofing material used just six pumps. train in.”

LAUNCH OF NEW FIREBOAT RETURNS ALAMEDA FIRE TO THE WATER n ill-advised budget wrong real when firefighters were forced under Security Grant. San Francisco Fire is the “We’ve asked for volunteers for boat in Alameda – one that con- orders to remain on shore as a troubled only other Bay Area department with a duty and there hasn’t been a shortage,” tributed to a needless tragedy man committed suicide by jumping into similar vessel. Del Bono said. “The city has agreed to – has finally been righted. the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. The fireboat carries a crew of three on provide staffing and training.” In February, the Alameda “It was a lesson for us all,” said Jeff the majority of calls and each department The fireboat significantly improves the AFire Department christened the Deanna Del Bono, president of Alameda City shift will have seven qualified operators. safety of Alameda residents in the event Jo, a 32-foot fireboat equipped with twin Firefighters Local 689. “But now we The closest operator on the shift when a of a disaster such as an earthquake. Before pumps that each can spray as much as have a pro-public safety city hall and the dispatch is made will take the Deanna Jo the launch of the Deanna Jo, Alameda Fire 2,000 gallons of water a minute and reach fire boat will be a great addition for the from its dock at the Alameda Marina to had just two Zodiac dinghies with out- incident scenes faster than most of the department.” the scene along with two crewmembers board motors to transport firefighters/ on-shore fire equipment on the 22-square- The Deanna Jo is named after retired trained in water rescues. During a fire, the paramedics, victims or material if road- mile island. Alameda Fire Department administra- boat can pinpoint its water cannons and ways were clogged with traffic or too Budget cuts removed the department’s tive secretary Deanna Johe. The fireboat, act as a pump for engines on the shore. damaged in an emergency. water rescue service in 2009. In May of which cost approximately $500,000, was The boat also has a device that can find “This is a much-needed platform,” Del 2011 those cuts became heartbreakingly acquired with the aid of a Federal Port heat sources in the water. Bono said. “We are excited to have it.”

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 17

Michael Massone th CPF 5 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 5 represents federal firefighters across the state of California. 5th LEGISLATIVE BATTLES BENEFIT ALL FIREFIGHTERS his year has turned out to be an local, statewide and federal levels. H.R. 3718, sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps However, CPF knew these lawmakers incredibly busy and exhausting Many of our local affiliates interview (D-Santa Barbara) introduces presumptive when they started out and have grown and one so far. Staffing shortages, and endorse congressional candidates in disability parity on existing California dis- nurtured their relationship with them. The budget cuts, sequestration… the conjunction with the IAFF and the CPF. ability presumptions and, finally, H.R. 471 representatives and their staff know and Tlist goes on. Each local has its own unique Our legislative staff actively engages and corrects the hours worked portion of our trust our affiliates, so it makes the some- challenges and shortfalls and every one of pursues candidates who are seeking fed- retirement benefits. times difficult job of lobbying that much you has felt the pinch to some degree. eral elected office and coordinates with So what does all of this mean to you? easier. What remains constant is the vigi- the affected district vice president and Currently, California has 53 representa- I have perhaps oversimplified the pro- lance and dedication of the California myself. I encourage all locals to participate tives and two senators. However, each cess. Creating, drafting, introducing and Professional Firefighters (CPF) leader- in the interview and endorsement process. district does not have District 5 members getting legislation signed is often akin to ship and staff. Guided by resolutions and While the office may be a local Assembly residing or working in them. making sausage. However, with the CPF policies ratified at convention, the CPF seat, eventually that member will seek a The good news is that the CPF has leadership, staff and our 30,000 brothers crafts and pursues legislation to ben- higher office. This is especially true for members in every district and I can assure and sisters working together, things are efit our members and their families. This Congressional candidates. Statewide lead- you that every affiliate is lobbying on our easier. diligence is recognized at all levels of gov- ership and local affiliates braved terrible behalf. I know this through the process of Our legislative track record and the ernment – local, regional, state and, in the weather and travel issues in mid-March direct communication with each affiliate battles we have won statewide are evidence case of District 5, the federal government. to be in Washington, D.C. lobbying for and participating in the process by attend- of this fact. I want to close by thanking Through resolutions, the CPF body has IAFF-sponsored legislation. ing conferences and conventions, getting all of the CPF affiliates that have stuck by mandated the International Association of There are three bills and several issues to know each local’s executive board and District 5, opened doors and invited us to Fire Fighters (IAFF) to pursue specific leg- before Congress that are a direct result communicating the issues. meet with their representatives, and it is islation benefiting federal firefighters. The of CPF-sponsored resolutions. House Each affiliate in Washington, D.C. this my sincere hope that collectively, we can CPF leadership constantly communicates Resolution 1141 formally fixes the trade past March knows their representative and achieve great continued success as proud our members’ needs to elected members on time inequities for federal firefighters; the CPF leadership knows each, as well. UNION brothers and sisters.

SEQUESTER EFFECTS ENDANGERS Provencio said he first spoke to the fire chief about the two in/two out concerns and was told not to go in until VANDENBERG FIREFIGHTERS backup arrived. But Provencio said by the time backup arrives the plane may he budget sequester that hurt two-week pay periods. The other six mem- The main runway at the base was designed be completely engulfed in flames that millions of federal employees bers left due to the salary fluctuations and for the Space Shuttle and stretches 50,000 increases intensity, making it more last year has ended but the general unhappiness with the federal fire feet – the longest on the West Coast. That difficult and much more dangerous to effects on the Vandenberg service, Provencio said, and were picked up also means the Air Force’s heaviest planes extinguish. Professional Firefighters Local by other departments. are often routed there and, as a rocket and “I didn’t like that answer from the TF-116 are still being felt. Coupled with the elimination late last missile testing site, cargo on those heavy chief so we filed a grievance with the Local President Mike Provencio said he’s year of the Vandenberg Hot Shots, its lifters is often explosive. Provencio said wing commander,” Provencio said. “The had eight firefighters leave his department wildland firefighting detail, any fire in the his engines usually run with four peo- general said he assumes all risk. Well, since December and staffing pressures have rolling, heavily wooded terrain that sur- ple, but there are only three-person crews that’s not good enough for us.” caused potentially life-threatening issues to rounds the air base could explode into a now. Provencio said they should have 15 Provencio said his department arise for those working the United States huge conflagration before the sparse Van- firefighters on duty each shift for a -Cat expects to get some relief from military Air Force Base’s flight line. denberg firecrews could attack the flames. egory 9 fire station such as Vandenberg’s, personnel soon but, once again, training “Two of our guys retired early because The United State Forest Service has pro- but don’t, and the actual numbers fluctu- issues arise. He said he understands the they had enough,” said Provencio, a civil- vided some manpower, Provencio said, ate all the time. ebb and flow of federal budgets, but the ian lieutenant with the Vandenberg Fire but the crews are not training together. “The guys on the crash trucks have to recent sequester dug too deep this time Department. “The effect of the sequester is The overall training budget for the depart- wait until back up arrives otherwise we and endangers firefighter safety, which still being felt and the furloughs were just ment has been decimated and overtime pay can’t do two in and two out,” Provencio is unacceptable. ridiculous.” is basically non-existent. said. “We’re seeing increasing risk for our “We’ve always had fat and lean years,” Provencio said his firefighters were fur- But those woes fail to compare with firefighters with these numbers. Enough is Provencio said. “But we have to meet loughed 11 hours each pay period for six those of the flight line’s first responders. enough. This has got to stop.” minimum staffing levels, and we aren’t.”

18 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

Mike Lopez th CPF 6 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 6 represents CAL FIRE Local 2881. 6 th BUDGET INCREASE CRITICAL AS FIRE RISK LOOMS LARGE

he transition to a new leadership team within CAL FIRE Local 2881 is now more than a year into the change. We haveT appreciated the insights, advice and patience as we move forward. Cliff Allen, our vice-president, said it best when he reminded all of us that professional firefighters everywhere share the common bond of protecting the public and preserving the integrity and viabil- ity of our profession. At its core, that is the reason we work so closely with the Photo by Cy Phenice International Association of Fire Fighters and California Professional Firefighters.

THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET pension discussion has been an under- CHALLENGES the turn of the new century. Two of the California firefighters have done a scoring of the contributions we make The drought is real. Those of us from three most significant fires have taken remarkable job through some perilous every day to protecting California. No agricultural areas understand clearly that place in the past two years. The fires are budget cycles. We have obviously kept one doubts that we are there no matter when the federal government tells farm- long and costly and we stand between our attention on our critical mission of the danger and our training and edu- ers they will not be getting any water this the flames and unfathomable destruc- protecting the public while at the same cation is the difference between saving year, the crisis is profound. CAL FIRE tion. The causes are mostly lightning time, enduring significant cuts to our lives and the preservation of property. sees the problems as an increase in wild- and humans. As firefighters, we need infrastructure. We have worked longer This year, Gov. Jerry Brown is pro- fires and an associated reduction in water to propose greater prioritization of our hours and confronted severe conditions moting a $1.4 billion budget - $777 supplies for drinking and fire suppression. response mechanisms and increased with fire engines and air support that is million from the General Fund, to sup- We are working diligently with com- education. sometimes held together with bailing wire port an all-hazard department of almost munities on brush clearance and water and intuition. 7,000 employees. This is an increase of preservation. The conditions we are con- SOLIDARITY As representatives of the firefighters $158 million from last year’s budget. It fronting in the field are unprecedented: Not all firefighters work under identical who are on the front line, we have also reflects optimism by Gov. Brown that, a state that is dried out after decades of conditions. However, as I visit with fire- tried getting beyond political polarization as his economic policies come to frui- urbanization. fighters at our convention and at IAFF and the ugly barrage of press to participate tion, we are in better shape to earmark Our own private survey revealed that and CPF gatherings, I am impressed by in responsible pension reform. We have resources for public safety. The principal our firefighters are being forced to work how deeply committed the members of worked with governors from both parties adjustments are for State Responsibility longer hours on more catastrophes that our profession are to keeping their com- to devise reasonable approaches to fund- Area versus federal responsibility and, are increasing in severity. munities safe. ing pensions. importantly, for personnel and workers’ Consider that 10 of California’s 13 I am honored to represent Local 2881 One of the consequences of the compensation adjustments. largest wildfires have taken place since and to be a California firefighter.

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 19 Dave Gillotte th CPF 7 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 7 represents Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014. 7th A CALL TO POLITICAL ACTION

os Angeles County Fire affiliates (including CAL FIRE Local Yaroslavsky. If, as expected, it goes to a gen- remain on high alert and don’t let down Fighters Local 1014 is 2881) have been very busy interviewing eral election, the total tab will likely top your guard. pleased to be the host local candidates and assessing races and can- $10 million. Local 1014 is withholding for this year’s California didates in order to make endorsement our endorsement in the primary election WELLNESS/FITNESS INITIATIVE Professional Firefighters decisions for state Constitutional seats, to assess the issues affecting the race. The IAFF will be tackling the fourth Convention. The conven- the state assembly and senate districts. Speaking of alliances, we would like rewrite of the Wellness-Fitness Initiative Ltion returns to the Sheraton Universal The process has been tedious and time to thank UFLAC 112 with President and, as one of the original founding ten Hotel in Universal City and we know consuming, but extremely fruitful in Frank Lima for his continued commit- departments and unions, we will be serv- everyone will come prepared to get the building our effectiveness. ment along with his board in working ing on the technical committee and task hard work done on behalf of the proud In Los Angeles County, in addition with and alongside Local 1014 on many force to influence the direction of the pro- first responders we serve. to the numerous assembly and senate issues affecting the county and city. We gram. Of particular interest, is a push to Speaking of business, we would like races, we are now well into two elections have proven that we can be more powerful address cancer issues with recent changes to let you know that we stand in full for two open seats on the Los Angeles when we stand together than stand alone in practice and data. Also, behavioral support of the CPF Executive Board County Board of Supervisors. These seats on some of the larger issues affecting us health programs will include alcohol and resolution to increase political action are possibly the most powerful of any local through the Los Angeles Labor Federa- substance abuse help; emotional wellness committee funds. For us, the question government body in the nation. Each L.A. tion concerning political action. will include Post-Traumatic Stress Disor- isn’t whether we can “afford” a PAC per- County supervisor represents nearly two der and there’s even a section on financial capita increase, but can we afford not to million people – more than any state leg- health. I hope this piques the interest of increase PAC funds. islative or congressional district and also A CRITICAL LOCAL our members and please feel free to contact Each and every one of us will be heav- more than 14 states. The supervisors also PENSION FIGHT me with your stories or ideas for inclusion, ily affected by the current and proposed serve as fire commissioners for the L.A. We also want to call attention to another or at least discussion in our work. This is a state legislative, initiative and even reg- County Fire Department, which makes pension assault initiative that has taken new phase and it’s exciting to say the least. ulatory changes we know are on the them obviously very important people for shape in the shadows of the withdrawn horizon. Our future - relative to wages, Local 1014. initiative from San Jose Mayor Chuck hours and working conditions - will be It’s been nearly two decades since there Reed. This, of course, is the Ventura NEVER FORGET critically affected by our ability to par- have been two open supervisorial seats and County Pension Reform Initiative Finally, Local 1014 would like to remind ticipate at a level higher than our number it is an extraordinary opportunity to get that seeks to put all new hires into a every member to take a moment to “Never of members, stronger than our per-capita, strong firefighter voices into office. 401(k)- style savings plan and discon- Forget” our brothers and sisters who have and more powerful than we should be to Local 1014 has allied with the Los tinue the defined benefit pensions that given all. It seems like we have had an ever- be effective for our membership. This can Angeles County’s sheriffs and probation were earned at the bargaining table. increasing list of funerals and memorials only be accomplished by funding every- officers, craft trades, professional and This is key. We all need to rally to to plan or attend. I finish these remarks thing from technology to social media other labor partners in supporting Hilda fight as we have done in San Diego, San in early April, just after taking a moment and going on offense, instead of defense. Solis to replace outgoing Supervisor Glo- Jose, Stockton and other areas where with our brothers and sisters from Boston ria Molina. Solis is a true labor warrior: a precedent continues to be set that may Firefighters Local 718 who will lay to rest former United States Secretary of Labor, affect all of us at some point. Specifi- brothers Edward J. Walsh, Engine 33, and MAKING OUR VOICE HEARD she also served as a member of Congress, cally, 1937 Act Counties should contact Michael R. Kennedy, Ladder 15. I also call Political action is the key to being heard the state Assembly and Senate and the Los Second District Vice President Chris on our union brothers and sisters to “Never and heard loudly to have influence on Angeles City Council. Mahon for details on how you can help Forget” why we do our work for the mem- the legislation and initiative process. It In the other seat, former State Sena- and consider donating time, money and bership. It is to protect our membership and seems we are seeing an unprecedented tor Sheila Kuehl will likely battle Bobby resources to walk and call on the issue. their families and to help provide the wages, turnover of seats at the federal, state and Shriver of the Kennedy family in the Folks, we are not done with pension working conditions and benefits that pro- local levels. The CPF team and its local quest to replace outgoing Supervisor Zev attacks at the local and state level. Please vide security for our sacrifice and work.

20 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Frank Lima th CPF 8 District Vice President DISTRICT REPORT CPF District 8 represents the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112. 8th SKYROCKETING CIVILIAN FIRE-RELATED DEATHS IN LOS ANGELES HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR MORE FIREFIGHTERS

ere in Los Angeles, we We are depending on our city’s cur- funding to 2008 levels as the union has training academy classes. I urged the city have been dealing with rent leadership to make the restoration fought for years to restore funding and council to continue to fight to ensure that several critical issues that of the department a top priority during resources as a matter of public and fire- the department has the personnel needed will determine the fate the upcoming budget season and we have fighter safety. The cuts to the department for full staffing. of the Los Angeles Fire made sure our message is heard loud and led to the closure of engine companies, The city council directed the LAFD Department (LAFD) for clear throughout City Hall. truck companies, ambulances and inspec- to submit a five-year plan for restoration Hmany years to come. As of the first week In early February, the Los Angeles City tors, which resulted in higher response of fire and medical services for consid- in March, tragically, Los Angeles has Council had a robust discussion on the times and a greater risk to public and fire- eration during the upcoming Fiscal experienced our 12th fire-related civilian future of the LAFD and the importance fighter safety. Year 2014-2015 budget deliberations. fatality since Jan. 1. This is an alarming of prioritizing funding and staffing issues. The union also supports the grand All items discussed were referred to the surge in civilian deaths. In all of 2013, Specifically, the city council reviewed the jury’s call for better technology and for Public Safety and Budget & Finance there were 20 fire-related deaths. We are findings of the Los Angeles County Civil more discretion for dispatchers. However, Committees for further deliberation. Our facing a dire situation, making our work Grand Jury Report that was released in we strongly oppose the proposal to civil- union’s presence was strongly felt in the at the United Firefighters of Los Angeles June 2013 recommending that the ianize our dispatchers and believe that council chambers with nearly 200 active City Local 112 (UFLAC) more impor- LAFD’s funding be reinstated to 2008 proposal needs to be a part of the collec- members and recruits in attendance to tant than ever. levels, that firefighters at the dispatch tive bargaining process and negotiations. represent the rank-and-file firefighters Our department responds to an aver- center be given greater discretion and I conveyed the immediate and urgent who put their lives on the line everyday age of more than 1,100 calls for service be replaced with civilians, and that the need to hire firefighters because the in the name of public safety. Our enthusi- in Los Angeles every single day. While department’s computer systems be over- department has not hired a single fire- astic showing paid off with several council our calls for service have increased over hauled. The city council also considered fighter in five years. In Los Angeles, there members declaring that restoring the fire the years, our budget has been cut by a motion that addresses the LAFD’s staff- is currently one LAFD Academy class in department will be a top priority during 16 percent and we have lost 370 sworn ing imbalance and our firefighter hiring session that began in January. But after the upcoming budget process. firefighter positions in the process. To and attrition crisis. graduation in June, the LAFD will have The LAFD is at a crossroads and make matters worse, we have not hired As president of UFLAC, I was invited even more vacancies than it does now UFLAC wants to help lead the effort a new firefighter in more than five years. to speak before the councilmembers to due to attrition and retirements. I also to make positive reforms. We believe We have suffered massive cuts that have express the union’s position on sev- expressed that staffing must be a prior- that the people of Los Angeles deserve resulted in delayed response times and eral of these issues. With regards to the ity. In Fiscal Year 2013-14, two recruit to have a fully staffed, dedicated cadre severe fatigue among our firefighters. The grand jury report, UFLAC agrees with training academy classes of 70 fire- of professional, experienced firefight- mismanagement of our department has three of the grand jury’s four recom- fighter recruits were funded (one began ers, paramedics and dispatchers ready to led to an increase in response times and mendations for the department. Our in January and one will begin in June), respond at a moment’s notice to any and a decrease in public service. union absolutely supports restoration of and the union is pushing for five recruit all emergencies.

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 21 CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION SAVE PROGRAM DANIEL A. TERRY SCHOLARSHIP AIDS FIRE VICTIMS DEADLINE APPROACHES

he California Fire Foundation can help children of fallen firefighters attend college through the Daniel A. Terry Scholarship Program. The deadline to apply for a $2,000 scholarship is July 14, 2014. T Named after California Professional Firefighters President Emeri- tus and California Fire Foundation founder Daniel A. Terry, the scholarships are awarded to children of parents who have fallen in the line of duty. A Gift in Your Time of Need Since its inception, more than $100,000 in scholarship awards have enabled 62 students to realize their dreams of attending college. 1234 5678 1234 5678 For more information on how to apply for a Daniel A. Terry Scholar- 1234 ship, please visit www.cafirefoundation.org/go/cff/scholarships-grants/ VALID 09/14 or call (800) 890-3213. THRU For additional information on survivor benefits, please visit www.cafirefoundtion.org. EMERGENCY AID

art of the California Fire Foun- purchase basic necessities such as medi- dation’s mission is to assist fire cine, food or clothing. The Foundation and disaster victims. With this has tested the program in the Sacramento GOT A CAUSE? Pin mind, the Foundation has area and plans to roll the program out launched its Supplying Aid to Victims of statewide this summer. The SAVE cards Emergency (SAVE) program, designed to will go a long way in reinforcing the fact WE CAN HELP provide short-term relief for those who that California’s firefighters care. are displaced or deeply affected by such To enroll in the program, the fire calamities. chief and the head of the corresponding YOU HELP OTHERS “Firefighters are the first line of defense firefighter bargaining unit or associa- in a disaster and are naturally the first line tion must agree to the guidelines of the ooking to get the word Foundation to further its mission of protection and solace when tragedy program and sign a Memorandum of out about a charity event of supporting the families of fallen strikes,” said Lou Paulson, Chair of the Understanding. The MOU is available for or fundraiser? Consider firefighters and their communi- California Fire Foundation. “We have review on the California Fire Foundation partnering with the Cali- ties. worked tirelessly to get the SAVE Pro- website (www.cafirefoundation.org). The Lfornia Fire Foundation. With your energy and the gram off the ground and are grateful we deadline to submit a signed MOU is July The Foundation is honored to Foundation’s resources, a part- are in a position to now expand upon the 1, 2014. be a part of your good works and nership with the California Fire services our firefighters provide to Cali- This program is available to any officially has the outreach, communication Foundation can make a difference fornia disaster victims.” organized fire department or district. and logistical know-how to spread for your charity and the charity Firefighters throughout California For more information about the SAVE the word and make your local that serves your profession. will be able to distribute gift cards in the program, go to Save.CAFireFoundation.org. fundraiser a success. All we ask is To find out more, contact amount of $100 to eligible victims of fire For more information, email that a portion of the proceeds go Foundation Executive Director or other natural disasters, so they may [email protected] or call (800) 890-3213. to the non-profit California Fire Hedi Jalon at (800) 890-3213.

ATTENTION ACTIVE & RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS!

PROUD OF YOUR PROFESSION? THEN SHOW IT! Call (800) 890-3213 and order your firefighter license plates today!

22 FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Proceeds Benefit the California Fire Foundation. CFFJAC

JAC TRAINING EMPHASIZES UNIFIED CFFJAC’S UNIFIED RESPONSE TO FIRE-LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE VIOLENT INCIDENTS TRAINING PRAISED AT LEGISLATIVE HEARING

groundbreaking new training program spotlighting police and fire cooperation in violent incidents is A getting new attention in the wake of a wave of frightening attacks, including one at Los Angeles International Airport last year. California Fire Fighter Joint Appren- ticeship Committee Program Director, Yvonne de la Peña, joined a panel of public safety officials at a special legislative hearing to discuss the CFFJAC’s timely new training system, Unified Response to Vio- lent Incidents. “We definitely know this type of training is in demand because the need is irefighters and EMS pull-up to what was dis- include the bonfire scenario mentioned earlier, as well as so great,” said de la Peña. “Fire and law patched as a routine call – a victim having trouble an active shooter at a middle school and a bombing and enforcement are responding together to breathing. Instead, they are confronted by a sniper attack at a high school football game. these violent attacks. They need to train raucous bonfire party and are met by drunken “In these types of incidents, having collaboration together.” partiers anxious for their help. It could just be a between law and fire is imperative,” said CFFJAC Pro- The CFFJAC program director was Frowdy party or it could be more threatening. gram Director Yvonne de la Peña. “CalOES looked to us invited by California Assemblymember As a first responder, what do you do? Do you wait for because we have FireStar Studios, subject-matter experts Freddie Rodriguez to speak at a hear- the scene to be cleared by law enforcement or go in on your and the joint labor-management cooperation that really ing called “Active Shooter Emergency own? makes developing training like this feasible.” Response: Lessons Learned from the LAX These questions and many others are addressed in the Shooting.” latest training scenario in CFFJAC’s Unified Response to SUBJECTS COVERED IN THE COURSES INCLUDE: The hearing of the Assembly Select Violent Incidents (URVI). Developed under a grant from Committee on Local Emergency Pre- the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), this • Unified Command and Operations paredness was held at the Los Angeles critical training is designed specifically to increase coop- • Federal, State, Local Guidelines International Airport in February, almost eration between fire and law enforcement agencies when • SOP’s/SOG’s four months after a lone gunman opened responding to a range of violent incidents with the goal of • Tactical Considerations fire in Terminal 3 and killed a Transporta- saving lives. • Law Enforcement and Fire Terminology tion Safety Administration officer. “Unfortunately, the number of violent incidents is on • EMS Skills Modules Assemblymember Rodriguez offered the rise,” said CalOES Director Mark Ghilarducci. “The • Rescue Task Force praise for the program and the com- training you get prior to actually being in a real situation mitment to public safety collaboration. can make life and death differences. CalOES has a long- Classes were offered throughout the state in April and more Rodriguez has authored ACR 94, a resolu- standing partnership with the CFFJAC and has confidence will be offered as additional funding becomes available. If tion promoting development of protocols in their proven, high-quality training programs. Unified additional classes are offered, priority is given to fire depart- and collaborative training platforms Response to Violent Incidents is no exception.” ments and law enforcement agencies that register together. between local fire, police and emergency The CFFJAC’s train-the-trainer model prepares partici- Visit the website, www.cffjac.org, for announcements medical services agencies in an effort to pants to deliver joint-training classes and exercises to their on future Unified Response to Violent Incidents train- more efficiently respond to active shooter local agencies. The real-world, video-driven group exercises ing classes. incidents across California.

CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS FIRST QUARTER | VOLUME 22 NO. 1 23 California Professional Firefighters Non-Profit Org. 1780 Creekside Oaks Drive U.S. Postage Sacramento, CA 95833 PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1824

SAVE THE DATE CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL CEREMONY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014 CAPITOL PARK, SACRAMENTO