March 30, 2014
Hello WPFFA Members,
I would like to start off by thanking so many of you for all the support that the membership has shown to the executive board. I have summarized the issues within the Association for your information. Please take a quick read and if you have any questions feel free to contact the WPFFA executive board.
Post Retirement Benefits
Last summer we filed grievances that both the Electronic Technician & Emergency Equipment Technician should have been filled and the City had passed the 90 days to fill them. We won the grievances. One of the reasons we fought this was to ensure whomever was going to be hired would still be entitled to post retirement benefits. The members where hired but were not given the post retirement benefits. We brought this point up with the City and both employees have been given post retirement benefits. Problem resolved.
Captains and District Chiefs Classes
During the last few years, both the FMT and the WPFFA executive board have heard many members express their concerns over the promotional process. I’m proud to say that both parties have agreed to a pilot program. There is a notice currently out looking for our own members to participate in the course creation, development and presentation of the upcoming promotional process. If you have the desire and motivation to change some of the past practice and you have the willingness to get involved please put your name forward.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you have been involved in an accident with a WFRS vehicle and you have completed your accident review board meeting you may have noticed the new guidelines put in place. Once a meeting has taken place with the Assistant Chief, Training Officer, Clerk, WPFFA Representative, and yourself and a suggested resolution to the motor vehicle collision inquiry has been determined, the Assistant Chief will send the recommendations to the FMT who will give the final approval. The member will then be put back on driving after all these steps are completed.
Rizza Human Rights
We are preparing for the Human Rights Tribunal set to recommence in May.
Boyer & Rizza Grievances
The City and the WPFFA have come to a resolve with regards to using your vacation, while off on sick. Therefore, the arbitration dates have been cancelled.
Monique Carriere Grievance
Unfortunately, with no pregnancy policy in place and the uncertainty that comes along with when you become pregnant at WFRS, Monique filed a grievance with the City. The grievance has been denied and we are moving it forward to Arbitration.
Pay Equity
We are currently waiting for the City to give the WPFFA an outline of their plan.
Green Shield - Benefit Plan
Once again we are asking members to go to the Green Shield website and register so that you can obtain answers, file for refunds, and get paid faster. The site has very detailed information about our plan and makes it easy to file and get paid for claims.
WSIB Files
Our WSIB Advocate has been reviewing the files and will soon start to develop a plan to put forward for these members.
OPFFA & WPFFA Sub Days
After reviewing the pay scale for Union Sub Days it was agreed to keep it the same. Therefore, there will be no increase to the sub day pay.
Overtime and Sub List
Hopefully, most of our members have contacted our Secretary Duane Janisse by email to let him know what phone number you would like the Association to use when calling for Overtime.
Communications
As most of you seem to be aware we have started to send out our messages via the social world. Please get registered on our:
1) Website: www.windsorfirefighters.org
2) Twitter: WPFFA_Local_455
3) Face Book: Windsor Firefighters
Please register and follow us on these sites and pass our message on to your friends. These social media avenues are the least expensive but they get our message out to thousands immediately.
Auxiliary Dispatchers
The FMT along with the WPFFA have agreed that there is a need for more Auxiliary Communicators. A notice went out in early March and closed last week looking for members who would be interested. Parties who successfully complete the auxiliary communicator process are expected to maintain their skill set by completing a minimum of one 12-hour shift annually. You are also required to remain on the Auxiliary list for a minimum period of 2 years.
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) 2013 Average – 9.6
2) 2012 Average – 9.35
3) 2011 Average – 10.11
4) 2010 Average – 8.99
The FMT is looking at the sick time and hoping to have interviews shortly.
2nd Assistant Chief
The grievance was denied from the CAO, so the grievance is set to go to Arbitration. We have retained the services of Howard Goldblatt to represent the WPFFA when we proceed to Arbitration. Howard Goldblatt belongs to the firm Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP based out of Toronto. SGM Law is one of Canada’s leading labor law firms. We are anticipating that this Arbitration will commence in August 2014.
Data Committee
The WPFFA and FMT have partnered on a working committee to establish accurate and credible data required to meet our legislative obligations, to enhance our ability to analyze trends and to demonstrate value to the community. To successfully address these and other issues we must embark on an aggressive move to mobile computing and a mobile workforce, but before we can do this we need timely accurate data from which to make important strategic and daily decisions. We need to “Take Credit for what we do!” We are not real good at telling people what we do. Sometimes we are too proud to really say what we do on a daily basis. Sometimes we don’t even realize the amount of things we do in the performance of our duties, this committee will help us to drill down and gather some of this information.
ESU Break In
The FMT will be sending out a notice shortly that states that the Captain will be able to break in Firefighters on the ESU.
Permission Off and Time Off
We had an incident in early February with regards to a member who banked time, when the City was short staff, by working days in the present and then set to receive his/her time off in the future, when the member needed time off. The problem has been resolved and the FMT and the WPFFA are all of the same opinion that this practice is not acceptable. You can not build time in the Fire Suppression Division.
IAFF – Geographic Information System
Our GIS has been completed. We are awaiting the final completed version from the IAFF. We will make it public very shortly to the City and to the membership.
Town Hall Meetings
There have been 2 town hall meetings in the last 3 weeks with regards to the new stations being built and closed.
1) Most Precious Blood Parish – March 6, 2014 – New Station 2 or 6
2) South Windsor Arena – March 27, 2014 – Closing of Station 5
With regards to the meeting for the new Station 6/2 it was very well attended by the citizens who voiced their concerns.
With regards to the meeting for the closure of Station 5 it was very well attended with citizens and fire fighters within the community. We may have not won that Station 5 is in the wrong place, but what we can be proud of, is that we have on record that Mayor Francis will ask his council to okay the monies for a new Station 8 this year, before his term is finished. Mayor Francis also went on record to state that the new Station 8 would be built in the next 2 years to follow.
What I noticed being at both meetings was that the citizens were truly upset that they never had a voice in this whole process. This is the same message that we have stated as well! That the citizens of this City should be outraged that there was no public input and there was no public consultation at all!
Flyers
As you are all aware, the WPFFA delivered flyers in Station 5’s area in South Windsor to let the public know that Station 5 is closing. The flyers were over the top and we apologize for that. I would like to say that we are all passionate about this issue and that we obviously are worried about the fire protection in the City of Windsor. We are on the front lines and we see the difference between adequate response and a response that’s too late. In our desire to underscore the importance of adequate fire protection to the residents of South Windsor, perhaps we let our passion get the best of us. Instead of, No fire protection, the flyer should have said delayed and the same for No rescue and back up medical protection, the flyer should have said delayed. Once again, seconds count and could make the difference between life and death.
Fight Back Campaign
We are looking into having a fight back campaign. This will be costly and very time sensitive. We will be looking at all sorts of media avenues, including Face book, Twitter, web sites, media clips, audio clips, news outlets, radio and newspaper advertising, etc. The IAFF and the OPFFA have assisted us tremendously up until now and I would like to once again thank them for their guidance and involvement. We have met with the City this last week to show them our plan and discuss some type of resolve. Unfortunately, nothing could be resolved but the one positive thing to come out of the meetings and the town hall meetings is that the re-location of Station 8 has been moved up quite fast.
Boston Fire Fighters Walsh and Kennedy
It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty deaths of
Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh, Jr., 43, and Fire Fighter Michael R. Kennedy, 33, of IAFF Local 718 – Boston, Massachusetts who both passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 while operating at an apartment fire. The Firefighter Walk By will be on Wednesday April 2, 2014 from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. Please keep Brothers Michael Kennedy and Edward Walsh, their families and the members of local #718 in your thoughts and prayers.
42 hour Platoon System
We will be holding dual meetings near the end of April to discuss what platoon system our local would like to go on. We have sent out a month schedule for the Toronto Fire and Pearson Airport for your viewing. I have attached to this email both schedules for the year in color, so everyone can see the complete schedule of both systems. These schedules will also be sent to the stations for everyone’s viewing along with a pros and cons sheet for each schedule.
OPFFA Standing Committees
If you are interested in sitting on an OPFFA Standing committee please submit your name and resume to the OPFFA before June 13th, 2014. I have attached the letter from the OPFFA outlining the committees and requesting candidates.
Closing Statement
Once again, I would like to state that we must remain professional at all times. The City, the FMT and the WPFFA may not always be in agreement with everything we do or interpret in the Collective Agreement, but we must always remain respectful and professional towards each other at all times.
Our next General Membership Meeting is on Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Hook and Ladder.
Fraternally,
Angelo Gertsakis
WPFAA, Local 455
President
