A couple of new job openings from Kevin H.

The first:

Hey Kevin,

I have a friend that is FireFighter/Paramedic in Walla Walla. The Chief down there is planning on hiring a few entry level people this year, so my friend suggested taking some of our laid off guys and the Chief told him to find out if there is any interest from us. His name is Brian MacIntyre and his e-mail  is bmci63@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Kelly Hoyt


The second:

Attention all you FF/PM if you are interested I have a contact name and number for port ludlow.  They wish to do a lateral entry very soon and have extended a hand to us.  They are looking for someone with fire experience though.  So here it is .....

editor's note: This was a posting for openings in Jefferson County. I was asked to remove it by their local president, as the positions have been filled, and now (almost 2 years later) people are still calling in reference to this posting. Thanks to Local 3811 for the original posting and your patience.

Openings in Boise...

We are currently taking applications and supplementals for Paramedics & Firefighter/Paramedics. We project to hire between 6 & 9 on May 1, 2005. I am attaching the job announcement and the website info. If you could pass this on to any of your firefighters that meet the requirements of Paramedic.


Thanks,


Tom Lovell
President, Local #672
Boise, ID


P.S. I was born and raised in Spokane and moved to Boise 14 years ago. It is the best place to live in my opinion. We are continuing to grow even though most departments are laying off. Call if you have any questions: 208-283-2672
 

Here is the website that applicants need to visit for the most current information: www.cityofboise.org  This one you must go to the fire department section.

 

Here is the direct page link:   http://www.cityofboise.org/fire/index.aspx?id=ffparamedic&MID=003Y

From Kevin Haughton regarding the Federal Way job...

Kevin,
Our department web site www.federalwayfire.org will have the application and information on it by Friday the 14th.
Applications are open until Feb 1.
Any laid off IAFF applicants will not have to take the written test and will go directly to the oral board (along with 30 applicants from the Bates written test) Ultimately they will also have to pass the IAFF CPAT physical test.
Bottom line is that they are at least guaranteed an interview.
Have anyone call me too if they have questions
Gordie Olson
President
IAFF Local 2024
Federal Way Firefighters
www.iaff2024.org
253-431-5315

Remember these guys!

On the home page of www.local29.org are links for pictures of our laid-off brothers and information on some work they can do for you or someone you know.

Kevin Haughton has info on another job opening..

Bill
Could you post on the blog that I have information for a job with Federal Way. Similiar to to shoreline or Edmonds hire no test just interview. Have the interested individuals get a hold of me at Statio 1 B shift ASAP

Thanks

Kevin Haughton

Laid off brothers update...

To all of you who have been laid-off, we want you to know that we are all thinking about you and looking forward to the day you return. If you would like to update us on what's going on with you, we would all appreciate it. Please e-mail and it'll get posted here.

Thanks, John

Raffle to benefit wounded CDA police officer...

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department has planned a fund-raising raffle to benefit the Kralicek family, in addition to the account set up at Wells Fargo Bank.

Some of the raffle items include autographed pictures and posters of John Travolta and Dennis Franz, as well as memorabilia from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department autographed by Franz, including a holster, T-shirt, coffee mug, 8-by-10 photos of Coeur d'Alene's police drug dog "Justice" and photos of the Honor Guard. Numerous other items are still being collected.

The raffle runs through Jan. 28 with the drawing that day at the police department.

Tickets are on sale at the police department and Wells Fargo Bank in Coeur d'Alene. All proceeds raised will go directly to the account in officer Kralicek's name at Wells Fargo Bank.

Raffle information: Firefighter Jake Bieker at 769-2340

Any Spokane Fire member who would like tickets also may contact Vickie (from dispatch) at 509-991-4622 or on D Shift.
THANKS

Scott Firefighter Stair Climb

Bank of America Tower, Seattle
Sunday, March 6th
Info at Local 29 Office

QUARTERMASTER SYSTEM

As many of you already know, the city now has to buy our uniforms. There are still some details to iron out (no pun intended), but your e-board members are skookum to where we stand right now. If you have any questions, ask.

Spokane County Professional Firefighters Forum

Good speakers, Good company, Door prizes. But, most importantly - FREE LUNCH and FREE BEER!
Saturday, Febuary 5th - 9:30 @ The RIdpath. Went to this last year. It was a really good time.

NW Firefighters arrive in Sri Lanka

If you want to keep track of what Darrin Coldiron (Scott's brother and a brother Valley Firefighter) is doing with the aid given by many of you for those in Sri Lanka, click the link.

Song from 1904 - The Man with the Ladder and the Hose...

Discovered this at a website that plays songs found in Thomas Edison's attic. It was recorded in 1904 by William H. Thompson onto a "gold moulded cylinder." The website address is http://wfmu.org/playlists/TE

If you want this on your MP3player so you can stairmaster to it at the station, e-mail me and I'll send you an MP3. Otherwise, just click on the link to enjoy this long forgotten song, singer and recording medium.

Tsunami Relief Fund

Darrin Coldiron, Scott's brother and a brother Valley firefighter is going to Sri Lanka to help with relief efforts there. The big thing they need now is iodine tablets to purify water. Mountain Gear is going to let Darrin get the tablets and other survival basics at cost. If you would like to donate some money to this effort, there is an account set up at the credit union. If you have any questions, call Scott. Currently, he's on A Shift - E16.

Important Info Regarding the LEOFF Trust Health Insurance Plan

December 30, 2004

Dear LEOFF Trust Member:

The Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Health & Welfare Trust (LEOFF Trust) previously notified you of its plan to convert the Health Insurance benefits offered to Leoff trust members from Premera Blue Cross to the First Choice Health Network. This conversion was to be coincident with a switch from Premera’s contract plan to a self-insured plan through the Leoff Trust, with reinsurance provided through Symetra Financial. The conversion was scheduled for January 1, 2005.

During the conversion process however, the City of Spokane raised certain issues that the LEOFF Trust feels cannot be addressed in the time frame currently available. Therefore, the LEOFF Trust has no choice but to delay implementation of the self-insured plan for active Spokane Fire Fighters.

Please be advised that the forgoing delay in implementation of the First Choice coverage will not result in any lapse of coverage for you or your family members who were previously insured with Premera. The LEOFF Trust has received a commitment from Premera to renew the coverage that was in place last year. The premiums from Premera will be adjusted and billed to the City. It is still the intent of the LEOFF Trust to convert from Premera Blue Cross to the First Choice self-insurance plan at the earliest possible date.

Many of you have already received your First Choice Network provider cards. Although those cards cannot be used at this time, you should retain those cards for future use. If you have not already destroyed your existing Premera card, please retain that card as well to be used until further notice. If you no longer have a Premera card, please contact Jenny Stevens at 509-484-5598 and a new card will be obtained for you.

The LEOFF Trust and Local 29 are taking action to resolve this situation with the City of Spokane and will notify all members of the LEOFF Trust as soon as information becomes available.

Please be assured that we, the LEOFF Trust and Local 29 are working hard to see that the conversion to First Choice through a self-insured plan is implemented as soon as possible.

Fraternally,

Greg Borg
President, Local 29 IAFF

Apologies to retirees

I have been sick over the last few weeks and have missed some of your retirement parties. I am sorry if I missed yours. Thank you for your participation in the union and your efforts as a City Firefighter. We are proud of you and will miss all of you. Local 29 wish you well.
Greg Borg

Notice to all being laid off:

If you are being laid off you please call Glenn Kiby at Civil Service 625-6160. If you would like to apply for another city job it can benefit you in several ways. If you are hired in another city department you have to take a voluntary demotion, but when you are hired by the other department you are on an unlimited laid off list for the fire department. You also get preference during the hiring process. It would be a job with full benefits while you wait to be recalled. So call Glenn and tell him you are a laid off firefighter. He can give you the details and tell you what openings there are. Good luck.
GB

$1,000,000 interest-free union member loan to city rejected...

Brothers and Sisters,

Final news on the back paychecks! Mayor West has rejected our offer of $1,000,000 to save 12 to 14 jobs. He said he has a commitment to only using only renewable funds to pay for salaries. He also said he has no way to assure the replacement million dollars in January 2006 to pay use back. He thanked us for the offer but had to reject it.

With that decision and the Mayors rejection of money from our LEOFF I Pension fund, it brings to an end any solutions we have to save any more jobs. Thank you for your generous vote on the issue.

The back paychecks will be distributed in late January or early February, as soon as the city can get it done.

Fraternally, Greg Borg

From Bill Jackman: SPOKANE FIRE CHIEF FACES TOUGH DECISION

Just when you think things around here can't get any worse, we havereached a new level of bungling in our EMS system.  For the past couple years, every 911 patient transport has been billed at the higher ALS rate.  Yep, even a simple BLS transport for constipation has been billed at the higher ALS rate.

 Even if all the ALS work is done by the Spokane Fire Department, the patient is still billed for ALS by the ambulance company.  Furthermore, 60% of the patient transports were suppose to be billed at the lower BLS rate.  Since they are now billed at the higher ALS rate it means an extra $700,000.00 dollars per year for AMR!  And consequently, the people that we are supposed to protect - are forced to pay for something that they are not receiving.

 It's like ordering basic cable service (BLS) and receiving basic cable service - but people are being forced to pay for deluxe cable service (ALS).  The really reprehensible aspect of this, we provide most of the ALS care at no expense to the patient.

 EMS is 80% of what we do and nobody I've talked to in Spokane knows anything about this billing practice .  You would think with the EMS levy just barely passing, we would take EMS issues around here more seriously.   AMR billing in Seattle was contacted and they confirmed this billing practice - it's called ALS Emergency Mandated.

There may be a ray of hope out of this mess.  People have been charged for ALS when the SFD Paramedic accompanies the patient to the care facility.  This is a prohibited charge under the contract.  Just guess how many times a year our Medics ride-in where the fine can be as high as $5,000.00 dollars for each violation.  The penalties could be in the millions, but our Chief has to make the effort to fine the ambulance company.  

The down side of this is how public perception about SFD EMS might change.  In the future people may think EMS stands for Emergency Medical Scandal. Fundamental reform and investigation about this matter is warranted.

 Happy New Year!

Bill Jackman

Black Friday

Black Friday
Originally uploaded by BillFoss.

The guys at Stn 17 will keep this up on the board until we get back to where we were. Thanks Mike L!

Newsletter deadline

Looks like January 4th is the deadline for submissions to the Local 29 newsletter. Thanks to all of those who have e-mailed in their requests to have the newsletter e-mailed to them instead of printed and mailed. You can e-mail me or info@local29.org with your submissions, or if you want to receive the newsletter through the miracle of the Internet. Happy Holidays! John