Saturday, November 06, 2004

Billboards

Here's what you should be seeing around Spokane.

PDF of our situation

Rather large (2.3 mb) PDF of who we are, what we do and why balancing the budget on our backs is bad business for Spokane, its citizens and its future.

Thursday, November 04, 2004

I might have misspoke (go figure)

Last night there were 80 or so people for the contract presentation. It would be great if you can make it out to this morning's. There are a lot of items on the PowerPoint that need explaining. If you are just going to go into the office on Friday to vote, there will be a copy of the PowerPoint, as well as people to answer your questions. Sorry about any confusion.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

If you can't make it to the presentations...

If you can't make it out to the training center, e-mail me and I'll send you the powerpoint presentation of the contract specifics. Remember, you still have to vote on the contract at the union hall on Friday if you don't make it out on Thursday at 10 a.m. to the training center. billfoss@comcast.net

The word on firefighter openings

An Xl document from Kevin Haughton. Thanks Kevin.

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

A message from Greg Borg...

Brothers and Sisters,

          As I have been visiting stations and talking to people about the crazy state of events, I have heard a considerable amount of panicky talk from our younger members. I thought I would take a minute and write to all and ask a few things of all of you. First of all, the rumor mongering and the sky is falling talk is very hurtful to our younger brothers. Please do no pass on unconfirmed information. Let us spend our time thinking of ideas on how to solve our problems instead of complaining about how bad it is. Before this is over we will need help from each and every member of the Local, please think of a way you can help. Secondly, to our younger members. Please be patient, nothing has happened yet. We will not know the final numbers on the budget until December 15th. Do not make any hasty decisions or do anything that will jepordise your job standing until you know the end result. We have six weeks to influence the City Council and Mayor West to put money back into the Fire Department budget. We have just begun to fight.

    At this moment we are coming off of a 30 month struggle to protect our contract and get a decent pay raise for all. We have won that battle. We saw the City Council pass a early retirement buy out last night, that could mean up to ten (10) jobs saved. We need to vote on our contract and have the council vote to pass it.

    There are several ideas we are working on with the Mayor that could save another 15 to 20 jobs. So lets not panic. Let's not come to work with bad attitudes, please be patient. We will work our butts off and use every recourse we have avalible to save jobs. Our current struggle gives us the opportunity to show each other what our "brotherhood" is all about. United we can be successful. Your Union leadership is working, thinking, planning and lobbying 24/7 to archive a reduced number of layoffs. It is most important to be kind to each other and look out for the other guy.

    With Hope, Greg

Council votes YES on buyout!

Monday night your City Council voted by a 6 to 1 margin to offer a buyout package. There is a set amount of money put aside for this purpose. They are offering $15,000, that's fifteenthousand dollars, to be put into a medical payment account. Any member that takes the offer will be able to use the money for any medical bill or payment. This money is tax-free.

There is one important clause, it is on a first come first serve basis. This applies to the whole city. The sooner you apply the better your chances are. This money will not be there next year. So, use it or lose it. Call imediately, 625-6363, ask fo Kris Cavanaugh or Mike Shea. Good luck.

Monday, November 01, 2004

The official version from VP Duke

From: Snider, Kenneth
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 16:53
To: SFD Local 29
Subject: Contract Vote

Hey All:

There will be a contract presentation and vote at the Training Center on the following dates:

Wednesday, 11/3, 6 p.m.

Thursday, 11/4, 10 a.m.

Ballot box will also be available in the Union Office from 0900-1300 hrs on Friday, 11/5 (no presentation)

These will be your only chances to hear about and vote on the proposed contract.

Remember, you must be a Local 29 bargaining unit member (this includes Dispatch, of course) to vote.

*****Since this is not enough notice for everyone to see this notice before the vote, we ask you to call those on the B and C shifts, and anyone who is off.  You relief guys might want to call your fellow travelers, just in case no one else does.   Thanks *****

CONTRACT APPROVAL MEETINGS AND VOTE

These meetings are open only to Local 29 bargaining unit members.

All meetings will be at the SFD Training Center.

Meeting on Wednesday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Meeting on Thursday, November 4th at 10 a.m.

You can cast your vote at one of the meetings.

You can also vote at the union office on Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Kevin Haughton's updates on firefighter jobs...

If you think you are going to be laid off, make sure you check your departmental e-mail for updates from Kevin regarding job openings - some with lateral entry. We've decided to keep the specifics out of the public domain of this website - for obvious reasons. Thanks Kevin for your work on this.

And if you want to be able to check your e-mail from home (maybe you want Informational Notice specifics on how to check hydrants on your days off), and you don't have the portal address, e-mail me and I'll get it right to you.

BillFoss@comcast.net

Rally for pro-firefighter candidates- AMTRAK Station - Spokane WA - October 30th - 2004.

An interesting thing happened to some of us trying to make it into the rally.

WARNING - DO NOT CLICK THE LINK, IF YOU MAY BE OFFENDED BY A REPORT THAT MIGHT CONTRADICT YOUR FEELINGS OF SUPPORT FOR ANTI-LABOR CANDIDATES AND THEIR WORKERS.

Knowing that the spectrum of political beliefs is wide in our department, we want to keep the partisan stuff to a minimum on this website. So, please take the warning seriously.

It's an interesting story (at least to me). But, your continued readership is important, especially as we try to get the word out on the contract (still under wraps - except for word-of-mouth) and the layoffs. So if you think that reading this article will make you swear off this website - don't read it!