November 7, 2013
Hello WPFA Members,
I have reported on some issues that have come to some type of resolve and some issues that I see that could affect our local. Please take a quick read and if you have any questions feel free to contact the WPFFA executive board. We have been extremely busy and hopefully this information below will answer your concerns.
Contract
Our contract was finally awarded from Arbitrator Burkett, 8 years later. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get the 42-hour workweek implemented by January 2015. There will be a lot of details that will need to be agreed on with the FMT. I feel confident that this can be accomplished without having to go back to Arbitrator Burkett.
Wages
Our hourly wage should be adjusted shortly and made current to what the contract awarded by either November 22nd or December 6th, 2013 pay.
Retro
Our retro was paid relatively fast after our interim award in 2009 and I don’t anticipate any major issues or obstacles for this retro pay as well.
Media
With the contract, there has been a lot of negative comments from our local columnists. We have been working with the OPFFA, IAFF and local media experts and we are in the midst of writing a letter to the Editor of the Windsor Star to correct all of the mistakes that these columnists have written. Please be patient, this is truly uncharted water and we are trying to do the right thing. What I would like to stress to our membership is to please refrain from making comments in the blogs. This only fuels the fire and gets results in more articles being printed. We have also had to talk to our Police and EMS friends to do some damage control. Try to refrain and take the high road, remember to always be professional.
From the IAFF: Social Media Guidelines
“Don’t get fired for Social Media: Think before you post!"
Social media is a great way to communicate with other people, but always be mindful of what you post. Not only should you think twice before putting something online, but this general rule of thumb can also apply to text messages, what you say on a listserv, or chat about on IM. Think twice about how and what you say and how it may reflect on you before posting messages. And remember, what you post online should never be considered as private – once you post it, you can’t take it back. And with so many users anyone can share it with the masses on the Internet.
• Always take responsibility for what you post online. Think about this as a measuring stick: if you think your comments or photos would embarrass your mother, then don’t post!
• Avoid posting abusive, insubordinate, incendiary or disloyal remarks (images) that pertain to elected leaders, fire departments, the media or about other fire fighters.
• Avoid picking fights or arguing online.
• Don’t post anything that will put you under scrutiny by your employer.
• Use your best common sense when posting online because even if you delete information it can still cache on your computer. If you feel unsure about posting something-- listen to the warning bells.
• Be mindful of where you use social media. Many fire departments are cracking down on fire fighters’ use of social media in fire stations. So be aware of any rules that may pertain to you and using social media.
Bottom line - be careful of what you post online and remember there is no such thing as a right to privacy when it comes to the Internet.
Communications
I would like to thank each and every one of you that have kept up on the media or any other social outlet and kept us in the loop and up to speed. Obviously, we don’t have enough time to keep up on everything and it has been wonderful to have so many of you keeping an eye on all of the important issues for us.
Wake Up Windsor
We have come up with a resolve and Wake Up Windsor will run for 8 weeks in the Spring and 4 weeks for the 2nd part. (Last 2 weeks of August and first 2 weeks of September). It will also consist of a couple of days during Fire Prevention Week. It was agreed to that if you were involved with training (Smoke House, Auto Ex, Hazmat, etc.) on a day that Wake Up Windsor is to take place you would be exempt from participating in Wake Up Windsor. The only issue outstanding has the Joint Health and Safety committee involved. This issue has to do with inclement weather.
Emails to Members
We have had many instances in the last year where members have sent out informative emails to the membership. Sometimes these emails are taken out of context or some individuals have taken offence to these. From now on we would request that if you would like to share some informative articles please forward them to us and we will make them accessible on our website. Do not use the City intranet or email for this purpose.
Internet Policy
Please remember that there is a City of Windsor Acceptable Use Policy and we should not be advertising personnel items on the intranet. Please use the City bulletin or go to our message board on our website to advertise these items.
Vacation and Stats
Our vacations will be put out by the end of next week. Please try to follow instructions and in the future please put the week and the actual days as requested on the sheets.
Sick Time Average
Our sick time has been below the City average and we continue to improve on this. If you are going to be placed on sick notes you must be over the Fire Department average for 3 consecutive years.
1) 2010 Average – 8.99
2) 2011 Average – 10.11
3) 2012 Average – 9.35.
Accountability Tags
Please keep in mind that your accountability tags are part of your personal protective equipment. Please remember to place them on the accountability board in the halls and your nametags on the passports on each vehicle as well. If you forget to pick them up in the morning lets help our brothers and sisters and exchange them if possible on the helmets in the locker room. Also, if you noticed that yours is missing, or illegible you should be filing a lost or damage to equipment form for new tags. Try to relocate your original ones first.
Joint Health and Safety Committee
Congratulations to Rob Fawcett for being our newest Health and Safety representative.
Joint Job Evaluation
Unfortunately, it was a little difficult to get together with the City these last 2 weeks. A date has been set for December 2, 2013 to discuss an action place.
Clothing List
The Clothing list should be made available shortly to everyone.
First Aid /CPR Training
We are currently looking into the legitimacy of the First Aid and CPR training program on the LMS system. We will be having discussions with the FMT regarding our concerns about the program.
Honor Guard Uniforms
It was voted on and passed at our last General Membership meeting to purchase new Honor Guard Uniforms for our Honor Guard.
Firefighters in Chef Hats of Canada
A Firefighter in Waterloo is making a cookbook about firefighters in their communities, showcasing them in their environment, highlighting their skills and offering locally inspired recipes from our firefighter family to families everywhere. So, if you have a recipe that you would like to submit go to our website and check out the information package.
LTD
We will be discussing and voting on our LTD plan and the improvements that are needed to bring it up to today’s wages which means we will need to increase our payments per pay period. The report is on our website, so please look at it and come to our next general membership meeting on December 3rd, 2013.
2014 FF's Calendar
If you need some calendars please contact our calendar Firefighters to get some copies to sell.
Upcoming dates:
1) Sparky's Toy Drive Gala hosted by Biz X magazine on Friday Nov 15th at 10pm.
2) Friday Nov 22nd - Calendar Release party at The Bull and Barrel starting at 9pm.
3) Saturday the 23rd - The Bay at Devonshire Mall from 12-3pm.
4) Saturday Dec. 7th - Look Good Feel Good promotion at the Shopper's Drug Mart on Huron Church
Association T-Shirts
Our T-shirts have been being distributed to the members. Most of us have received them, so if you are still without one please contact someone on the board to receive yours.
City of Windsor Employee Awards Banquet
I attended the employee awards banquet on Wednesday November 6, 2013 at the Fogolar Furlan Club. It was very nice banquet and it was very good for the WPFFA to be present. Councilors were present and the CAO, so it was good to be out networking with other members of the City of Windsor. There were a lot of our members from the WPFFA that were recognized that night for years of service and for receiving their Diamond Jubilee Awards.
WPFFA 60th Retirement Banquet
Our Banquet was a huge success! It was nice to see so many new faces, young and old attend. Everyone had a good time and I want to thank everyone who was involved with making it a fabulous evening, especially Maureen Nicholls!
Chilifest
The Benefit fund did an excellent job with the chilifest! Many thanks to all of the firefighters and friends who served chili, cleaned pots, picked up chili, dropped off pots and did all the little things to make this day a wonderful event. Once again, a special thanks to Bridget Chippett and John Picco for all of your dedication to the event!
Fraternally,
Angelo Gertsakis
WPFAA, Local 455
President
