Firefighter March April

The

Los Angeles Firefighter

Official Publication of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City — Local 112, IAFF, AFL-CIO-CLC

www.uflac.org

VOL. 49, No. 2

March / April 2011

New Budget Cuts Averted

On Friday, January 14, the City Council adopted a set of budget balancing measures designed to save an additional $20 million this fiscal year. Thankfully, the LAFD will not be impacted by any of these measures and our budget will remain at the present level for now.

ued to lobby against the cuts. By Friday when the Council came back together, a new plan had taken shape. The new plan included neither the additional civilian furloughs nor fire department cuts of any kind. When the vote was taken on this new package it passed unanimously.

The Council’s action on Friday was the completion of a discussion that began two days earlier on Wednesday the 12th. The discussion began with the CAO’s proposal to cut $53 million out of the city’s budget by, among other things, increasing the number of furlough days for civilian workers, furloughing special duty firefighters for the first time, and expanding the MCP by another 8 or 9 companies.

UFLAC expects that in the coming months the CAO will continue to recommend additional cuts to our budget and to those of other City departments as well. In March he is obliged to make a quarterly report to the Council on the City’s financial status. With that will undoubtedly come recommendations to trim spending. One month later in April, the proposed budget the CAO is preparing for the Mayor for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 is due. If past deeds are any indication, we can expect the CAO to come after the Fire Department with special zeal. If that happens UFLAC members must be ready, willing and able to mobilize again with the same intensity and unity that was on display on January 14.

But on Wednesday the 12th hundreds of civilian workers and firefighters descended on City Hall. Together we spoke out against the CAO’s proposals. Firefighters highlighted the dangers that both the furloughs and the MCP expansion would create and increase. Our voices were heard loud and clear by Council Members. Before long they became wary of the CAO’s plan and they elected to continue the item until that Friday in order to give them time to search for an alternative. In the interim UFLAC contin-

UFLAC wishes to thank all those who came out for the rally at City Hall, and all who were there in spirit. Without our presence in the Chamber there is little doubt that the Council would have made the cuts recommended by the CAO. Photo By Juan Guerra, EPN

Fire Destroys Second Story of Vacant Building

March/April 2011

1571 BEVERLY BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 (#ISSN01907573)

The Los Angeles Firefighter

PERODICAL Postage Paid at Los Angeles, CA

On Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 1:14 PM, 19 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 EMS

Battalion Captains, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 6 Division Chief Officer Command Teams, under the direction of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas responded to a Major Emergency Structure Fire at 3850 West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in the Baldwin Hills/ Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. Firefighters arrived quickly

to discover heavy smoke and fire showing from a 75’ x100’ commercial building. Fire crews mounted a swift and offensive attack while making strong headway to locate the origin of the flames. Interior attack teams and support teams established a staging area, to optimize a strategic assault that would confine the fire to a rear section of the second floor. Firefighters using handlines, along with, strong teamwork and precise vertical ventilation, finally found the area where the flames were concentrated. The

Incident Commander called for additional companies, as well as issuing an emergency alert, for all operations to shift to a defensive mode of attack. The fire soon extended through the roof causing air conditioning units and other equipment from the top to begin falling through the structure. A second emergency alert was made, that one Los Angeles Firefighter was reported to be down, possibly injured on the second floor of the build-

ing. Although the firefight was still ongoing, swift attention was given to assist the fallen member, who was quickly found and taken out of the structure. Apparently a portion of the falling roof and some of the ceiling fell on the firefighter. He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was later transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in stable condition, with expectations of a full recovery. It took 153 firefighters to confine the fire entirely within the occupancy of origin, achieving a knockdown in 1 hour and 36 minutes. After a complete search, the building was declared vacant and no civilians were injured during the fight. Although efforts were made to minimizing damage to the vacant structure, the entire second floor was heavily burned. It is still unclear as to how this fire broke out, and will remain as an active investigation by LAFD Officials By Devin Gales, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

Are We Doing Enough?

By Adam VanGerpen, Editor Another Study that addresses the dangers of not wearing Personal Protective Equipment during Overhaul was released by the University of Cincinnati. You can read all the facts and figures from the study regarding the amount of particulates that are present during overhaul and how they can be hazardous to your health.

Most firefighters will not take the time to read a scientific study. In fact, most firefighters know the inherent dangers of overhaul without reading a study, yet they still don’t wear protection. Earlier this month, while sitting at morning line up we read about three active duty firefighters who were recently diagnosed with cancer. This prompted a discussion about recent active duty deaths from mysterious types of cancer as well as memorials we have recently attended for members just retired. When cancer and heart disease stare you in the face, you’re more inclined to react. Later that same day after discussing cancer and heart disease, we had a small trailer fire. The fire was quickly knocked down and we all knew we had about 45 minutes of overhaul. On a normal overhaul you

might see one or two firefighters wearing an M-95 mask, but during this overhaul every member was wearing a mask. Is NOT wearing a mask or SCBA during overhaul a Cultural Thing? How many brothers and sisters to we have to read about dying of cancer before we change our way of thinking. At a recent commercial fire a lone firefighter was wearing a M-95 mask while doing overhaul. There was almost thirty firefighters on scene. Light was shining through the roof and you could see the particles in the air. What is in those particles and what effects do they have on your body? A M-95 mask only protects you from dusk and visible particles. How do we protect ourselves from the particulates that we can’t see? Risk Management is in the process of analyzing the way we do

overhaul and what changes we might need to make. They are researching different types of respirators that will provide us with proper amounts of protection. Is there any respirator out there that will provide us with enough protection? Will we at some point be ordered to wear a respirator or SCBA’s during overhaul? As of right now the only way to truly protect yourself if to wear your

SCBA. Overhaul is dangerous, both short term and long term. Protect yourself and your crew the best you can. Don’t hesitate to wear your SCBA or M-95 masks during overhaul. You can’t see 70% of the harmful particulates released in a fire but you can certainly inhale them. Don’t risk it.

LAFD In-Service Training Section

By Tony Gamboa UFLAC Director ISTS staff along with Matt Ott and A/O Steve Lopez have worked hard on the design, fabrication and construction in getting the new roof props at 40’s and 81’s up and running. ISTS has just received funding for an additional roof prop at Fire Station 5 and is almost ready to start construction. To get time for your company on the roof prop call ISTS and request a date to get penciled in. You will also need to request CAV time for the prop.

Sperian SCBA’s have now all gone into operation. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your new breather and buddy breathing techniques. Grant funding is being worked on for new computer systems in all Fire Stations and a special ELearning Program for enabling firefighters to get C.E. at the firehouse. A/O and Engineer Seminars are being offered for new rigs coming

out. Off duty classes are pending for Forcible Entry, Vehicle Extrication, and Brush Training. Please remember to enter your training hours into the computer by doing your F-393 Forms. Filling out your 393’s gets ISTS Cal Jac money for training. Cal Jac money just purchased smoke machines available for check out at ISTS.

Flashover Container Training Funding Approved

Battalion 12 Testing Buddy Breathing On New SCBA’s

Above Photos By Adam VanGerpen

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighter

Page 3

Report From the President By Pat McOsker

LAFD Members Speak As One

Good things happen when firefighters stick together. On January 12th about 100 off-duty union members responded to UFLAC’s call to rally at City Hall against yet another round of budget cuts. The turnout was impressive and the Council heard our message loud and clear. In the end, they responded to it by doing exactly what we asked them to. The issue before the City Council on the 12th was the CAO’s latest money saving proposal to brownout another 8 or 9 fire companies and to furlough Special Duty assigned firefighters and paramedics. Together, these proposed cuts amounted to another $11 million hit to an LAFD budget that has already shrunk by $65 million since the financial crisis began two years ago. But more importantly, the CAO’s plan would have further eroded public and firefighter safety in Los Angeles, and we wouldn’t have it. In the days following our successful rally at City Hall, a handful of Councilmembers contacted me specifically to say how impressed they were by our united front. Those who called tended to be the natural friends and allies of Local 112, but their message was more than just complimentary; it was valuable insight into how the Council often reaches its decisions. In essence what they said was that even erstwhile enemies on the Council were sobered by the specter of LAFD firefighters speaking with one voice about public safety. For perhaps the first time since this financial crisis began, Local 112 truly lived up to the name, United Firefighters on January 12th. While I want to keep the relatively modest victory won that day in proper perspective, I also want to make the point that we’ve got to keep it up. It’s true that this was only an $11 million proposed cut which was preceded by the loss of six times that amount over the past two years. But it’s also true that this occasion was the first time in many months that LAFD firefighters have been truly

unified in their dealings with the City. This was the first time Local 112 went before the Council with a single message, backed up by the rank-and-file, without any faction of the membership scheming in the background with a competing proposal or organized effort to discredit union leadership. It’s important to learn the lesson in this. We’re going to need lots more of what works with the Council in the days ahead. In March the CAO will report to them on the City’s thirdquarter financial status. Without a doubt, he’ll report yet again on a growing shortfall in the City’s revenues, and he’ll likely then

the pie that we have now – that is to say the same dollar amount in our budget – and to also achieve a better, safer staffing model than the current MCP with its rotating closures. I’ve heard lots of opinions about how it ought to be done – how we should staff the LAFD in this budget crisis – over the past two years. All too often though, the opinions seem more intended to protect one group or another from impact than to create a better, safer LAFD. Of course up to this point it hasn’t much mattered what UFLAC has thought though about how it ought to be done: The MCP is

Dozens of LAFD Members Fill L.A. City Council Chamber Speaking With One Voice

take aim at his favorite target; the LAFD. One month later, on April 1st, the Mayor will announce his proposed budget for FY 2011/2012. As of now, the CAO is reporting that the projected deficit that budget will have to address – the gap between expected revenue and the cost of providing the same level of service – is $350 million. That’s about the same size challenge that the City faced when the MCP was first forced upon us in 2009. It goes without saying then that the Mayor’s budget won’t propose a restoration of all that has been lost by the LAFD since the crisis began. But if we are lucky, and if we are together, we just might get better treatment in the coming year’s budget than what we’ve received in the recent past. In my view, a realistic goal would be to maintain the same size slice of

a purely management creation that went into effect without our input or agreement, and very much against our will. Try as we might all these long months, we’ve not been able to stop them. The task has been impossible in the face of two successive Fire Chief’s who have steadfastly and publicly defended the MCP as the safest and best way to balance the LAFD budget. In my opinion though, things may be changing. I sense that the Mayor and the Council are beginning to weary of the constant pressure that UFLAC has put on them regarding brownouts. We’ve taken every opportunity to publicly highlight instances of delayed responses and bad outcomes. We’ve contacted the press, spoken to neighborhood councils and other groups, and even put out mail and walked

Photo By Lisa Weingarten.

precincts. Many elected officials in Los Angeles are telling me they want an alternative to continued brownouts and angry firefighters. And now I’m hearing encouraging words from the Fire Chief as well. There seems to be a fresh desire to collaborate with UFLAC toward something better for our members. As this is being written, labor and management are having the first honest discussions regarding staffing models since the onset of this crisis. Accordingly, I want every union member to know where I come from regarding LAFD staffing. I strongly believe that every decision must be made on the basis of public and firefighter safety being inviolable. I’ve heard others say that as we wade through the tough decisions ahead, our goal should be to protect every position with equal intensity. Some have said that any cuts to positions and/or programs should be on an “across the board” basis. I disagree. If more permanent cuts are made – if ultimately we see “hard closures” and/or more position eliminations – I believe we must use a scalpel to carve out only that which can be safely eliminated, rather than a meat axe to slash everything

about how the LAFD ought to be staffed. The Chief certainly has his opinion and I have mine. But if firefighters can’t come to agreement – and if we can’t back up what we say with unassailable facts – then the Mayor and the City Council will eat us alive. They will continue to take advantage of a department in disarray by cutting us even deeper. To defend against that, the NFPA 1710 Standard is THE nationally recognized and accepted “bible” of fire department staffing. It can’t be picked apart or effectively refuted by the CAO or any other City Hall civilian. So now I’ve told you how I feel about the budget challenges that lie ahead. I’d love to hear how you feel about them as well. Please don’t hesitate to call me, don’t hesitate to call any member of your UFLAC Board, and please come to as many union meetings as you possibly can. In the months ahead it’s going to be critical that we display the firefighter solidarity that was present at City Hall on January 12th. We’ve got to act democratically and speak with one voice. Local 112 certainly can’t afford to go back now to the “every man for himself” approach taken by a few,

Pat McOsker and LA County Fed’s Maria Elena Durazo

across the board equally. I believe that the NFPA 1710 Standard for the Deployment and Operations of Career fire Departments must “figure in” on all of these decisions. I say that knowing every member has an opinion about what’s important…

irresponsible union members last year. The men and women of the LAFD who work so hard and risk so much deserve better than that.

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

Report from the 2nd Vice President . . .

By Frank Lima 2nd Vice President CHALLENGES AHEAD – LETS STAY UNITED ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE I hope the New Years brought you quality time with your family and friends. Remember, after our long career of firefighting (that goes by fast), what do we have? We have our family and friends. During this current economic climate comparable to the great depression, we do have a lot to be thankful for. We have a very healthy and solvent pension system with our police brother and sisters. We have not given up any base pay in our salary, while layoffs, and double-digit base-pay salary cuts are common across the nation unfortunately. I know that the 36 company brownouts per day in the City of Los Angeles are wearing and tearing our members down; physically, mentally, and in the area of morale. Thank you for your dedication and commitment; you do not get told thank you enough for your sacrifices! It is not the fault of public safety unions across the nation that municipalities are in financial peril, and that fire companies are browned out on a daily basis with civilian and Firefighter safety odds being played like Russian roulette. It is easy to get sucked in to negativity at the firehouse kitchen table, don’t let it happen. If there is negative vibes on an issue, or you have an idea to make our department better, come show up at a union meeting and get involved. These are normally members that refuse to do anything to make our union and department a better place than when they found it. You will hear and witness some people saying everything is a problem, and everything is the Union or the Chiefs fault, etc. On the flip side, you will hear others that have not even identified a problem. Glass is half empty or half full, you decide. I just wanted to say thanks for all of your sacrifices. TAKE A DEPARTMENT VEHICLE Do NOT take your personal car on any details for the department. You will be asked, told nicely, requested a favor, asked to be a team player, or the best be a company player! The problem is when you do your chief a favor, then get into an accident while in your personal car on duty in uniform making the broken brownout system work, I seriously doubt if that same chief will be standing by your side with his/her check book out to assist

you while you are being sued and the city steps back leaving you, your family, and your home hanging in limbo. I hate to be so blunt, but as a leader of our union we have witnessed one of our own members suffer with car repair bills piling up, while the department has shunned one of our own rank and file firefighters, the same workers running the calls day in/day out. We can not sit back and refuse to be silent on this position. Also, I do not want to come across negative to anybody, but this is the absolute truth and you have the absolute right to be informed. Truth and negativity. You need to weigh the difference. Drive to your first work location in your car, and then demand a department vehicleperiod! Our job is not to tell you what you want to hear, and in this case the truth unfortunately hurts. Please, protect yourself, your family, your house, and your financial future; because our chief

FF BILL OF RIGHTS TRAINING Your union put on professional training for Assembly Bill 220. The UFLAC office was packed with executive board members, stewards, prospective stewards, other Fire Departments, and Local 112 members from Firefighters to Captains. The large turnout, training information, and the overwhelming positive feedback from our members was that ‘the training was successful’. New updated appeals legislation and several questions from our members were fielded as well. We will be scheduling another day in the near future so that all members will have a chance to attend as well, the next training will not be scheduled on a ‘B’ shift day again. I highly advise Attending the training to educate yourself, but more importantly to protect yourself and your rights.

Frank Lima and Tony Gamboa with Russ Lyons from Haix Boots

time to get your best average. Remember it happens in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and high blood pressure does not discriminate!

DEFERRED COMPENSATION The deferred compensation board for the City has one seat for the police and fire departments. Our current seat is held by incumbent John Mumma of the Police Protective League (LAPPL). He is up for re-election and is endorsed by the LAPPL and by our union (UFLAC) jointly. John is a long standing PPL board member who works hard as our deferred comp representative as well. Director Gamboa and myself brought John to fire station

Blueline paper recently.

M.L.K.. WEEKEND The L.A. County Federation of Labor held their annual MLK breakfast with other unions in the house of labor. An impressive line up of guest speakers was in attendance with several dignitaries. Remember, King was in Memphis walking for sanitation union workers organizing to get a fair wage, and safe working conditions when he was assassinated. Several City Council members, the City Controller, and City Attorney joined us for breakfast at our UFLAC table along with a few of our brothers from LA County Local 1014.

2nd Vice President Frank Lima Addressing City Council managers at city hall have proven to abandon you after an accident while being a ‘company team player and making it work’. RALLY AT CITY COUNCIL In early January UFLAC called for members to join together to speak against even deeper cuts to the LAFD. The cuts would have been an additional 11 million to the LAFD, even more brownouts, and the first wave of furloughs to our sworn personnel. I wanted to thank all of our firefighters who came to join us while at the microphone in front of council. President McOsker and myself spoke and made the unsafe working conditions our members are exposed to daily with the Russian roulette brownouts a matter of public record. UFLAC’s presence of over a hundred members ended up being successful, because the additional cuts to the LAFD were spared. The rally was a successful day at the UFLAC office that started with camaraderie, and breakfast burritos to all in attendance. A special meeting was called at UFLAC prior to the rally asking city council candidate Mitch Englander questions from the membership regarding several issues. After Mitch left the room, it was clear that he was the one to endorse. A motion was made, seconded, and passed; and Mitch Englander is now the endorsed candidate by Local 112 for council district 12.

WELLNESS FITNESS INITIATIVE Please do not forget to make wellness a priority for yourself, and your crew you work with. If we do one thing right, let’s make sure that we stay healthy so you can enjoy your retirement, that thing you are working your entire career for. You are entitled to exercise daily, take advantage of it! STOP, DROP, AND CONTROL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! I have written several articles about high blood pressure, and just wanted to hit you with another reminder on the importance of checking your blood pressure. We can’t be repetitive enough on this issue. The silent killer is very treatable, and firefighters will help strangers, but will normally be the last to help themselves. Start a little log (confidential) of your blood pressure checks over

Photo By Juan Guerra, EPN 69 for his first firehouse visit. Mumma was greeted with coffee and questions at the kitchen table, and explained several changes and things to watch for in your investments. Mumma was given tour of the station, handball court, and the apparatus. Please vote John Mumma for deferred comp board. Also, in this newspaper see the deferred comp article from Mumma that was in the PPL’s

HEALTH AND SAFETY Remember training is at an alltime low. Be very cautious and aware of your surroundings at all times while operating with short handed staffing levels during the brownouts. Like a fighter that gets comfortable in the ring and keeps their hands down, ends up on their back. Do NOT get complacent as a firefighter. Check your SCBA, do your routine daily checks, talk about your standard operating guidelines (SOG’s) with your mixed crew and lack of continuity due to the brownout closures and details. You cannot assume anything. Take a younger member under your wing and get on the same page; that younger member from across the City may be the same one saving your life tonight. On roofs remember; Don’t walk cross country, always use a sounding tool and sound for structural integrity, and choose a proper route of travel (bearing walls, valley, lam beams, etc). Be safe brothers and sisters and thank you for all you do.

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighter

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Update on Deferred Comp

By SGT John Mumma, LAPPL Secretary and Deferred Comp Board Member I’ve now been on your Deferred Comp board for a year and want to give you a heads up on some things. At the January 2011 meeting, I was elevated from 3rd Provisional Chair to the 1st Provisional Chair to replace Sally Choi who recently retired as the head of the LACERS Pension plan. This means that the top four seats on the board are now held by labor representatives. The remaining seats are the heads of the three city retirement systems and the general manager of personnel. If you pay close attention to your DC investments you already know that over the past couple of years some very significant changes have taken place within our plan. After considerable study and a couple of surveys of participants, the board has been paring down the number of options within each category (i.e., large cap, bonds, etc). This has been done in large part because you have asked, overwhelmingly, that the board make it easier for you. Not so long ago you had a dozen or more options within each category and, let’s face it, most City employees are not in

the money management business. It also meant that in order to keep so many options some were retained even though their performance was not quite as good as some of the other options. By paring down the choices only the very best performing funds have been retained. Another thing we learned was that many of you thought you were well diversified when in fact you had everything in the same asset class, albeit in several different funds. Another big change (in response to your requests) was the addition of pre-diversified profiles such as the “Aggressive Profile”, “Ultra Conservative Profile”, etc. This allows you to put your money into such a profile and know that it is automatically well diversified within that asset class. The board has also added a brokerage option (Schwab SDBO) which allows you to trade individual funds and stocks to your heart’s content. While relatively few employees actually take advantage of this it is there for those who fancy themselves as day traders or who just want to dabble in the markets. And if someone in your family actually is a stock broker—have at it. Because it is within our DC plan you get to trade at a much lower cost than you could through any other outside broker. We have also negotiated advice at the very highest level within Schwab for those who reach certain levels within the SDBO—something you could never get on your own, anywhere, without millions of dollars invested in a single place. In the coming months the board will be making decisions on rebranding some of the remaining fund options. For example, there are currently a number

of funds wherein the name starts with that of a well known company (Fidelity, Vanguard, etc). All of these funds will be rebranded along the lines of “City of LA Deferred Comp Large Cap Index Fund”. This is being done to protect against decision making based solely on who’s been in the news lately or the, “well, at least I’ve heard of them…” style of investing. Much study and research has gone into all of these changes which is why it has taken a couple of years to implement all this.

have participation rates of about 90% and the overall plan has over $3 billion in assets. Most of our participants didn’t panic when the markets went south last year and patiently rode out the storm, taking full advantage of the extraordinary returns that followed these past many months. Finally, I want to invite you to partake of the free information your board gets. As managers of a huge portfolio you can imagine that we employ the best in the business. These advisors brief

manager updates, cash flows and what they expect to come in their particular market sector, both short and long term. They answer all questions from the board and, frankly, what they have to say is information you just can’t get anywhere else. You are welcome to attend these meetings and get such information for yourself. If you can’t make it, I keep all of the written reports and will make them available to you in my office at the Los Angeles Police Protective League, 1308

Gregg Avery, Frank Lima, George Ostrovsky, Billy Barerra, John Mumma (LAPPL), Ron Bruno, Scott Gill, Tony Gamboa, Ray Chevas (Photo By David Navarro)

Last year I attended three conferences on deferred compensation and all of these issues came up. I was very pleased to hear that each of these changes we’ve made and are making are in line with what are considered best practices within the industry. I’d also like you to know just how successful your DC plan is. At the end of 2010 there were almost 41,000 participants in the plan with an average balance of over $75,000. Yes, we also have more than a few $1 million plus accounts too. Police and Fire

the board every month on the third Thursday at the city personnel building, 700 E. Temple St, LA in the third floor board room at 9 a.m. These are open to the public and all of the board reports are available to anyone present. Also, at every meeting, one of the individual funds gives a report to the board. For example, an investment manager from the Fidelity Diversified International Fund recently provided a very in-depth report on their fund—where they are invested, why, economic trends in that particular sector,

W. 8th Street. This is proprietary information so I can’t post it but it is presented in a public forum (required by law for this type of plan) and I’m happy to share with you. As always, there is a lot of information you can get on our website.

www.cityofla457.com John Mumma is on the Deferred Comp Board and is up for re-election. He has been endorsed by the UFLAC Executive Board.

Maybe Pensions Aren’t So Lavish After All

By John McCarron, Chicago Tribune Maybe those defined-benefit pensions aren’t so lavish after all. Maybe there are some jobs so dangerous, so demanding of steady nerves and sound judgment under pressure, that the men and women who work them deserve the benefit of our doubts. Even when times are tough, even when most of us can only wish we could retire at age 50 with 75 percent of pay, maybe we should take a deep breath, dial down the envy, and just say: “Thanks, guys. You deserve every penny.” Chicago firefighters Edward Stringer and Corey Ankum will never get to enjoy their retirements or their defined-benefit pensions. Their lives were cut short last Wednesday morning after they dashed into a fire-compromised building on the South Side to look for survivors, only to become victims themselves when a truss roof collapsed. More than a dozen other firemen were injured, two seriously. Stringer and Ankum died as heroes, and the collective heart of Chicagoland goes out to their families. Ankum was a father of three, including a 1-year-old. Stringer was older, divorced with a grown daughter. He liked to ride

his motorcycle, walk his beagle Roscoe and, when the need arose, mow his neighbor’s lawn and shovel her walkway. Point is, the biggest problem I had last Wednesday, besides writing this column, was finding the bad bulb on a dysfunctional string of Christmas tree lights. How about you? Were you hustling to get a year-end report written before Christmas break? Or wading through shoppers at Oakbrook Centre looking for that perfect something for a certain someone? Fact is, most of us don’t have to dash into a still-smoldering building by dawn’s early light to see if there’s someone lying lifeless in the black soot. Or, for that matter, approach a darkened automobile pulled over on the shoulder of a lonely expressway at 3 in the morning. So while we may joke about cops’ supposed affinity for doughnuts, or cluck-cluck about those on-duty firemen who got caught recently helping a buddy renovate his house, very few of us would want their jobs when a 3-11alarm is sounded or when the words “shots fired” crackle over the police radio. These are special jobs that require the men and women who perform them to take

extraordinary risks under extraordinary circumstances. So maybe, just maybe, they deserve to be compensated in special ways. And maybe, just maybe, one of those ways ought to be a defined-benefit pension with a high enough dollar amount and low enough eligibility threshold to match the risks involved. None of the above is intended to excuse the excessive publicsector retirement benefits we’ve been hearing about lately. Shame on the retired Highland Park parks director who gets $166,332 annually thanks to a mega-raise in his last year and on the Homewood-Flossmoor school teacher/administrator who allegedly is pulling down $238,882 a year. Incessant reporting about these and other excesses has made the public uber cynical about publicsector retirement programs. Many are calling for an end to definedbenefit pensions altogether, or at least a reform that puts new hires in defined contribution, 401(k)type plans common in the private sector. (Never mind that the average retired teacher in Illinois gets about $43,000 a year.) Such a reform probably is inevitable, given the dire state of public-sector budgets at all levels. So let’s go ahead and tell

the paper-shufflers and building inspectors and driver’s license examiners that they can play mutual fund roulette with the rest of us. But somehow I don’t begrudge giving a better deal to the cops and the smoke-eaters. My dad was a volunteer firefighter as a young man and went on to become chief of our small town’s fire department. He told me once that, when he was a rookie, he passed out fighting a smoky flax fire in a textile mill in North Providence, R.I. Would have been a goner, too, but for another fireman who “went back in” and found “Mac” unconscious on the floor. So I’m prejudiced. I wouldn’t be writing this except for a guy

who “went back in.” And if an ample pension is all he or she wants for taking that risk, I’d say we’re all getting a heck of a deal. Editorial by: John McCarron teaches, consults and writes about urban affairs.

Chicago Firefighters Corey Ankum and Edward Stinger

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

Employee Assistance Corner...

A Bridge To Somewhere

By Nancy Mraz, CEAP, EAP Director A BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE… I would like to take the opportunity in this issue to remind our members and their families of the wide variety of services we offer in the Employee Assistance Program. We can provide

assessments on alcohol/drug problems and referrals to treatment programs. We also have extensive lists of counselors, both individual and marital. We have recently created a packet on elder care issues, and are in the process of visiting each fire station with information on financial health. We are also able to provide callers with names and numbers of lawyers practicing in many different specialties. On the UFLAC/EAP website is a complete list of pamphlets we have in our office dealing with a wide variety of issues. Check out the website, and if you see any pamphlets you would like copies of please give us a call. If you have a situation that doesn’t appear to be resolving itself, or solutions seem to be in

short supply give us a call. Sometimes having someone help brainstorm a problem may uncover remedies you weren’t aware of. It has also come to our attention that at least 2 Fire Departments, Phoenix and Chicago, have seen an alarming increase in suicides among their members in the last couple of years. These departments, like LAFD, have EAP’S and multiple other services on mental health issues. So if the resources are available how can individuals be so close to help and so unable to access it? While the reasons may vary from individual to individual each of us simply needs to acknowledge that when a person slips into such despair, no matter what the reason, that ending their life seems

to be the only alternative they may no longer be in a position to help themselves. This brings us to the meaning of the headline of this column, can each of us see ourselves as the bridge to help. You may be unsure how to approach someone about contacting the EAP, or what may be troubling them, however if you’re willing to try, lives may be saved. Over the years I have helped many of you figure out how to approach someone you’re concerned about, and in countless instances it has paid off in that individual contacting the EAP for help. Some of the saddest conversations are about people who everyone knew were in some sort of downward spiral and because no one knew what to

do, and were afraid of doing the “wrong” thing, they did nothing. In situations such as these I frequently hear, “I wonder what would have happened if I had done …..” or “I wonder what would have been different if I had said….”? There are no answers to these questions, none of us will know what would have been different. So in a very real sense we are our brothers keeper, we can and must look out for each other. Give the EAP a call and we will help you look for the opportunities to become that bridge and save a life, we can be reached at (800)252-8352, option 3 during business hours. After regular office hours and on the weekends we can be reached by calling (213) 250-1212.

New UFLAC Secretary Adam Knabe

By Adam Knabe, UFLAC Secretary Hello everyone, I am your newly appointed Secretary of UFLAC Local 112. First of I would like to thank you for your support in these recent elections. I will do everything in my power to represent ALL members to the best of my abilities in these next few years. A little about myself if I did not get a chance to meet you during the campaign. I have eight years on the job and have been

exposed to many different parts of this Department. I am currently a Firefighter/Paramedic at Fire Station 87. I recently transferred here from my position as a Staff Assistant in Battalion 15 for two years and prior to that spent most of my time as a FF/PM at Fire Station 60. I am also currently involved in a few of the specialized units on the Department. I am a member of the Swift Water Rescue Team as well as rostered on the FEMA USAR team. I spent about 4 years running one of our Departments Explorer Posts (Post 100) and also currently sit as a member of our LA Firemen’s Credit Union Board of Directors. I hope to take this wide variety of experiences and use them to serve you. I am fully aware that I am stepping into the shoes that have been worn for the past four years by a very passionate and experienced

man that has done many good things for our members. I would like to publicly express my appreciation to him for an outstanding relief and assistance in getting started. I also understand that I am stepping into this position in a very difficult time. A difficult time for our City, its citizens, our Department, but most importantly for ALL Union members . That

is where our (the Union Board’s) main focus lies. Our Members are struggling in many different ways. Many are struggling financially, some are struggling at home, and most unfortunate some are struggling with discipline issues and/or substance abuse. None of this information is new to any of you. If you are fortunate enough not to be affected by any of this then I am sure you know

someone who is. Your Union should be looked at as a resource and not only as an avenue for discipline representation or contract negotiations but a resource for many different things, such as the Employee Assistance Program and much more. In the next two years I hope to bring some new ideas to the table that will assist us as a Union Board to better serve you and I follow the model of leaving things better than you found them, and that is exactly the approach I am going to take. Please feel free to contact me at any time via e-mail ([email protected]) or my Union contact number and I will help you to the best of my abilities but even better than that, if we are both stumped I have plenty of resources at my disposal. Again thank you for your support and together let’s leave this place better than we found it.

Photo By Mike Meadows, EPN

Why are Healthcare Costs Rising?

By Anne Clifford,

Vice President and Consultant Fickewirth and Associates

The premiums for the UFLAC Anthem Blue Cross health plans are based on the total claims Anthem pays on behalf of UFLAC members. The rise in the cost of these medical claims is directly related to increases we are seeing in overall health care costs. Health care costs in general have been increasing at a rapid pace for more than a decade. Nationwide, premiums for group health plans like the UFLAC Anthem Blue Cross medical plans have increased 119 percent since 1999. Why are costs rising so high, so fast?

National Healthcare Costs As physician and hospital costs climb, the premiums for the UFLAC medical plans also increase. It has been the case that the rate of increase for medical services and health plan premiums has far exceeded the inflation rate for the rest of the economy for many years. Unpredictable and uncontrollable health insurance rate increases are having a very serious financial impact on the ability of many plan sponsors to continue to offer health plan benefits. While many plan sponsors are passing more of the cost increases onto plan members, UFLAC’s priority is to keep the UFLAC medical plans affordable for members and the member rates as low as possible.

Why are Costs Rising? There are many contributing factors to the steep and rapid increase in medical costs. Some of the major contributors to rising costs and premiums include: Costs of compliance with government regulations. Medical providers and health plans must comply with a growing number of regulations coming

from the federal and state level. Health insurance and HMO plans, are one of the most regulated sectors of the economy at both the state and federal levels. As anyone keeping up with the news knows, this is one of the most hotly debated topics in the country and will be a significant issue in coming elections. The passage of the health care reform law on March 23, 2010, added much more regulation and increased the costs of compliance. Health care reform provisions have already begun to be implemented and are scheduled to continue through to 2018. Increased utilization and consumer demand. Demand for many healthcare services has risen over the last decade. There are a number of factors at work here including, improvements in medical technology and increased consumer awareness of new drugs and treatments from television advertising and the internet. New medical technology. Medical research has led to new treatments and drugs for many conditions. Consumers now have more choices to address

their health issues that didn’t exist before. Increased prescription drug costs. Prescription drug spending has been one of the fastest-growing areas of medical inflation, compared to hospital and physician services. There are many factors driving the increasing price inflation for prescription drugs: Increased use – More people are using more prescription drugs, driving up spending. From 1999 to 2009, the number of prescriptions purchased increased 39 percent, compared to a U.S. population growth of 9 percent. Increased prices – Prescription drug prices increased at 3.4 percent in 2009. Changes in the types of drugs used – Prescription drug spending is affected when new drugs enter the market or when existing medications lose patent protection. Advertising – Prescription use in general and demand for brandname, higher-priced drugs can be influenced by advertising. Many critics cite television advertising as the source for rapidly increasing demand for the higher priced brand and lifestyle drugs.

Demographics – The population is getting older. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2025, and the elderly population (80 and older) will increase 80 percent. As this population ages, there is a subsequent rise in the occurrence of chronic diseases such as asthma, heart disease and cancer, and the need for more resources to fight these diseases. This leads to the increased use of prescription drugs and other medical services, and an overall increase in healthcare spending. What Does it all Mean? UFLAC coordinates closely with Fickewirth and Associates, its insurance consultant, to monitor the costs and performance of the UFLAC Anthem HMO and PPO medical plans. While there are many factors that contribute to rising medical costs, Fickewirth and Associates assists UFLAC to assure that all rate increases are fully justified and UFLAC members are receiving full value for their premium dollar. www.fickewirth.com

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighter

Page 7

AB 2331 - Firefighter Bill of Rights Clarification

Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D- Berkeley) amended AB 2331 on May 28, 2010, to address an issue raised by the Palo Alto Firefighters in a resolution that was adopted at the 2008 CPF Biennial Convention. In its previous form, AB 2331related to the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC) and its displaced firefighting hiring list. This bill clarifies the appeals procedure outlined in the Firefighter Procedural Bill of Rights

(AB 220, Statutes of 2007, Chapter 591), a set of basic procedural guidelines that take into account the unique role of first responders. Now that Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act has been in effect for a few years, firefighter organizations and their employers are realizing that the current application of the law may not clearly provide for an alternative, collectively bargained appeals procedure. With that, it’s evident that the provisions of the Act governing

the administrative appeals process are in need of clarification -specifically, with respect to those jurisdictions that have effectively mitigated past appeals through a locally-adopted grievance arbitration procedure. Rather than strapping these jurisdictions with the hefty cost of revamping their appeals process to conform with Office of Administrative Law rules under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) -- costs that in many cases would be prohibitive given the current eco-

nomic climate -- AB 2331 allows jurisdictions to retain and utilize their existing, effective grievance arbitration appeals process as an acceptable alternative to the APA process for issues arising from the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act. This bill as amended has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it was approved unanimously on June 22, 2010. This bill was approved by the Senate floor with no “no” votes on August 24th, the As-

On February 1, 2011 UFLAC members received training on the Firefighters’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act also known as AB220. The training was provided by Bill Hadden and Rob Wexler of SHSWL or Silver.Hadden.Silver.Wexler+Levine Law Corporation. www.shslaborlaw.com During this training seminar UFLAC members learned about the Rights of California Firefighters in the discipline process. A power point presentation was

prepared for the membership and given as a handout to keep as reference material. UFLAC was instrumental in the creation of AB-220 Firefighter Bill or Rights. California Professional Firefighters 8th District Vice President Pat McOsker lobbied Sacramento to form a Procedural Bill of Rights for Firefighters similar to what Peace Officers have. CPF also pushed for the AB-2331 Bill which gave clarification to the Firefighter Bill

of Rights and went into effect on January 1, 2011. As a result of the Complaint Tracking System (CTS) discipline and complaint cases against firefighters rose from 100 to nearly 1,000. This is in part due to fact that complaints can be done anonymously and they all need to be investigated. The City of Los Angeles has also agreed to increase the staff and funding to further investigate these anonymous complaints.

All members need to be more aware of their rights and take steps to ensure they are not violated. UFLAC Stewards are being given additional training prior to the general membership meetings as part of an ongoing attempt to increase the knowledge and abilities of our firefighters at the Fire Station level.

sembly floor then approved the amendments on August 27th, with no “no” votes. This bill was signed into law by the Governor on September 30, 2010 and took effect on January 1, 2011. For more information please email CPF Legislative Director Amy Howard.

UFLAC Members Receive Bill of Rights Training

By Adam VanGerpen, Editor

UFLAC Attends MLK Jr. Labor Breakfast

On Friday, January 14, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor honored Alvin Turner and Baxter Leach at our annual MLK Jr. Labor Breakfast.  Turner and Leach are two former rank-andfile AFSCME Memphis sanitation workers and veterans of the historic 1968 Memphis sanitation strike where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. They were presented awards by two of our

rank-and-file Los Angeles sanitation workers and member of the Teamsters Local 396, Maurice Thomas and Derek Gentry. At the Breakfast, civil rights leader Reverend James Lawson spoke about the Memphis strike as one of its leaders and its relevance today as a call for economic justice. NFL Players Association leader and former NFL football player Nolan Harrison

Public Service Workers Are Not the Problem!

On the front page, cable news and talk radio, public service workers are under attack every day. Enough is enough. It’s time for us to fight back. Public service workers are not the problem. Attacking public service workers will not create jobs. Attacking public service workers will not solve the problem of trying to save the vital public services that so many rely on. The only thing attacking public service workers does is divert attention from the real culprits of our country’s economic troubles and inequality: You, greedy Wall Street CEOs, politicians in Washington who turn a blind eye, and all right-wing talking heads who spin lies. When you attack public em-

ployees you are attacking the very folks whose work you benefit from — from providing basic public safety, to fixing potholes in the roads you drive on, to making sure clean water runs from your tap. No more. It’s time to stop the lies! Reprinted from Cal Labor Fed www.calaborfed.org

spoke about a potential NFL players’ lockout in 2011. California Attorney General Kamala Harris provided final remarks on the legacy of Dr. King to more than 500 LA County union members. On Monday, MLK Jr. Day, hundreds of LA teachers, firefighters, home care workers, grocery workers, hotel workers, truck drivers, sanitation workers, city, county, and state workers,

construction workers, and more marched with Alvin Turner and Baxter Leach in the annual Kingdom Day Parade.  LA Labor was also joined by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Reprinted from: LACounty Labor Fed

Thank You For Your Vote Of Confidence With no contract and continuous brown outs we face many challenges and one thing we need to do is UNITE. Just like our logo says “Strength through Unity”!! Lets do that and we will be un-

By Freddy Escobar, Director For those who don’t know me, my name is Freddy Escobar, and I am going to have the honor of serving the membership for the next two years as one of your directors. As many of you know I had the opportunity to serve the membership for the last year. I am humbled by all your support and I promise to serve the membership with integrity and pride as I have been.

stoppable. Once again thank you for your support and if you need anything I am assigned to Fire Station 26-C, email fescobar@ uflac.org cell 805-794-8105. Semper Fi

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighters Prepare for A Ride of Honor “L.A. To New York in 45 Days” The Los Angeles Firefighters Athletic Organization will be cycling across the United States to honor those whose lives were lost 10 years ago on September 11 and those who continue to fight for our freedom and safety. The Ride for 9-11 will commence July 24, 2011 in Downtown Los Angeles and end in New York City at the FDNY Firefighters Memorial on September 9, 2011. The Ride for 9-11 will be raising money for two very special charities, The Leary Firefighters Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Leary Firefighters Foundation is dedicated to providing equipment and training to firefighters across the United States, ensuring firefighters come home in the same condition they go to work. The LFF was founded by actor/comedian Denis Leary in

2000, after his cousin, childhood friend, and 4 other firefighters died in a tragic fire in December of 1999. Since then the LFF has been involved in various fund-raising activities and have been expanding their fundraising efforts across the United States. With the help of the LFF

the LAFAO will be working to develop a program to provide half piece canister based respirators for firefighters to wear during the overhaul phase of firefighting. In so doing reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses and cancers in firefighters. The Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2004 by a group of veterans and friends to help injured servicemen and women returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Their mission is to provide various forms of support

“You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.”

-author unknown

to the wounded aiding in their road to recovery. Their programs focus on four main areas: Mind, Body, Economic Empowerment, and Engagement. There are moments in your life you will always remember, like your first kiss or graduating from college or the birth of a child. For me, watching what transpired over those several hours almost ten years ago is just as indelible. As a young firefighter on the Los Angeles Fire Department I couldn’t take my eyes off of the continuous news coverage and feeling helpless. As a group of professionals we come to the aid of others in times of need. We are the ones that rush towards danger when others flee. It is these acts of bravery that the men and women of the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD performed that have inspired us to undertake the Ride For 9/11. This is our opportunity to give back to our fellow comrades and their families. This is your opportunity to be part of something inspirational and embody the meaning of what it is to be an American.

Jim Prabhu-LAFD and Scott Smith-LACoFD

By Scott Smith and Jim Prabhu The Los Angeles Firefighters Athletic Association

Daughter of LACoFD Engineer Jason Ghorbani Showing Her Support at 2011 Tournament of Roses

www.ridefor9-11.org

9/11 Rose Float at 2011 Tournament of Roses Los Angeles County Firefighter Jerry Thomsen like many of us was deeply effected by the attack on 9/11. While watching the 2010 Rose Parade with his wife Merrie Jerry came up with the idea to honor the victims and survivors by building a float that will be viewed by millions around the world. With encouragement from his wife he submitted the application to the Tournament of Roses which was accepted.

The intention for this float was to give all Americans an opportunity to “remember” our heros who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Everyone is encouraged to “reflect” on where we are as a nation today. And, most importantly, we would like Americans to “renew” their promise to “never forget”. The Thompsen’s took a dream and make into a reality on January 1, 2011. They captured the attention of a nation and reminded

all Americans that we need to bring out our flags once again and honor those that we lost, as well as the brave survivors. This float was only possible through the tireless effort of volunteers and charitable donations made to a worthy Non-Profit fund. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the hard work that was put into this endeavor. For more information go to :

www.911rosefloat.com

Jerry and Merry Thomsen....Thank You For All Your Hard Work

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighter

Page 9

Study Addresses Dangers of Not Wearing PPE’s at Overhaul Researchers have found that firefighters may face an increased risk for heart disease from exposures that occur while working during the overhaul stage, according to a recent study in the August 2010 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study -- conducted by the University of Cincinnati, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and the Chicago Fire Department -- concluded that more than 70 percent of particulates released during fires are “ultrafine.” These particulates are invisible to the naked eye but are able to be inhaled. Since coronary heart disease is the No. 1 killer of firefighters in the U.S., researchers say this is important information and that firefighters -- particularly in those with poor physical fitness or personal health -- could be predisposed to heart disease. The researchers found that the levels of ultrafine particulates were highest during overhaul; both in indoor and outdoor structure fires as well as vehicle fires. According to the study,

while firefighters are required to wear breathing apparatus during the knockdown stage, many are not required to use the equipment during overhaul. “Firefighters simply can’t avoid inhaling these ultrafine particles when they are not wearing their protective breathing apparatus and, unfortunately, they routinely remove it during overhaul,” UC professor of environmental health Stuart Baxter, PhD, said in a statement. Baxter attributed part of the reason that firefighter go without the equipment during the overhaul stage to its weight. “Much of this ultrafine exposure could be avoided through equipment improvements and more rigid safety protocols for fire suppression and by including additional workers who could be rotated in to reduce the physical and emotional burden of the job.” In the study, researchers conducted a series of simulated house and vehicle fires and measured the amount and specific characteristics of breathable particulates released

during combustion. It is the first study to characterize the size and distribution of

particulates during domestic fires. Funding for the study came from the AFG Fire Prevention

and Safety Grants Program Reprinted With Permission from www.emsworld.com

Photos By Adam VanGerpen, Editor

Shaving the Way to End Kids Cancer By Danny Wu, LAFD Firefighter The smell of pancakes and buzz of razors will awaken the senses on Saturday, March 12th as the LAFD and LAPD again joined together to host another LAFD/ LAPD St. Baldrick’s fundraiser to find a cure for childhood cancer. Engineer Sean Kennedy (12A) will organize the activities at Fire Station 112 in San Pedro while Firefighter Danny Wu (89C), Lieutenant Greg Doyle, and Engineer Rick Najera (60B) will watch the crowd at Fire Station 89 in North Hollywood enjoy the face painting, balloon artists, and Magic Castle magicians as they support those that were willing to sacrifice their vanity and locks in the name of fighting kids’ cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation coordinates worldwide headshaving events that raise money to support childhood cancer research. Worldwide over 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer every year and many of them lose their hair during treatment. In semblance to these patients St. Baldrick’s participants shave their heads to support kids with a similar “baldness” in exchange for pledges from family and friends.

In the process of losing their hair along with other “shavees”, they help find a cure for a disease that sadly takes the lives of more U.S. children than any other illness. Bring your kids as they provide a constant reminder why the fundraiser plays such an important role in saving children’s lives—as outside of the U.S. Government St. Baldrick’s grants the most money towards childhood cancer research in the United States. In addition to the free International House of Pancakes breakfast there will be refreshments provided by Starbucks and other patrons. Police and fire vendors will be on hand as well as static displays of police and fire apparatus. Cadet Post 89 will help children handle firefighting equipment and spray small handlines. Individuals will also be offered the important opportunity to contribute to the Providence Blood Drive and City of Hope’s Bone Marrow Registration Program. It will again be a fun and worthy event for the whole family! Please register as a shavee or donate online and help find a cure for childhood cancer!

www.stbaldricks.org

Las Vegas firefighter’s breast cancer related to work By Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has decided that a Las Vegas firefighter’s breast cancer is work-related. The court said substantial evidence supports the finding that Robin Lawson was exposed to a known carcinogen. She began her employment in 1992 and was first treated for breast cancer in 1997, then had treatment for eight or nine months. The cancer returned in

December 2004. After a surgery her oncologist, Dr. Noel Rowan, said he believed the cancer was due to her job. Lawson then filed for worker’s compensation benefits, but the city of Las Vegas initially denied her claims. Lawyers for the city told the court earlier this year in oral arguments there was no denial of treatment and the benefits have since been paid, but the appeal was still carried to the Supreme Court. City lawyers said this case is important to determine how

future cases will be classified not only in Las Vegas but in other governments in Nevada. The court, in a decision written by Justice James Hardesty, said evidence supports the finding that Lawson was exposed to the known carcinogen benzene, which is “reasonably associated with her breast cancer.” An appeals officer at the city ruled that Lawson had been exposed to two carcinogens -benzene and PAH. The court said these, to be cancer-related, must be listed either by the International

Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program. PAH is not on those lists. Rowan testified at the hearing he did not know in 1997 what cause Lawson’s breast cancer but since then had been to medical conferences and learned about the possible connection between exposure to certain carcinogens and the development of breast cancer. The court also rejected the city’s argument that Lawson submitted her claim eight years

too late since she was first diagnosed in 1997, but didn’t file until 2005. Reprinted with Permission

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

Congress Passes 9/11 Zadroga Act

The 111th Congress adjourned today, and as with every legislative session, there is good news and bad news for fire fighters. The defeat of the Public Employer-Employee Cooperation Act represents a significant setback. “Passage of our national collective bargaining bill was our top priority, and it is impossible to mask my frustration over the outcome,” General President Harold Schaitberger says. When asked at a press conference today if he had any disappointments about the 111th Congress, President Obama said he was disappointed that Congress didn’t pass the Public Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. The 111th Congress began with great expectations. For the first time in a generation both

the House and Senate were controlled by Democrats, and a prolabor, Democratic president was in the White House. Despite the potential for legislative success, partisan rancor and a series of mishaps turned the 111th Congress into an abyss in which important legislation, including the IAFF’s collective bargaining bill, failed to pass. The House of Representatives passed the collective bargaining bill on two separate occasions this year. But the Senate was brought to a standstill by a record 87 filibusters. The GOP Minority was enormously successful in thwarting legislation they opposed and the Democratic Majority was unable to break the logjam. In spite of having six GOP Senate co-sponsors for the collective bargaining bill, Republican leadership made it clear that they

would oppose the legislation with every parliamentary tool and delaying tactic they could employ. Click here to read more about the collective bargaining bill in Congress. Despite the defeat of the collective bargaining bill, there was a significant victory in the 111th Congress. Congress today passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, H.R. 847. Passage of the Zadroga Act was a profound achievement by Congress in the final hours of the 111th session. “This is a major legislative victory for the IAFF, the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, Local 94 and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Local 854. We are pleased that Congress passed this life-saving measure before they adjourned,” Schaitberger

says. Passage was long overdue, but the long-awaited approval from Congress will ensure that there is funding for existing medical monitoring and treatment programs for people at the World Trade Center or involved with the cleanup at Ground Zero who have suffered illnesses from the toxic dust and debris following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. “It’s particularly fitting and deeply gratifying that the last act of Congress before they adjourned was to pass the Zadroga Act,” Schaitberger says. Despite that legislative defeat, there is significant financial help on the way. The first round of Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) for Fiscal 2010 are expected to be issued before the end of the year. All of the first-

round grants will go to departments that will rehire fire fighters who have been laid off. The first round is expected to include 50 grants. “Fire departments will receive more than $400 million in fiscal 2010, and this funding couldn’t come at a better time. For so many of our locals, this is the best Christmas present we could hope for,” Schaitberger says. Reprinted from www.iaff.org

IAFF Accuses Politicians of Using Smoke Screen

February 9, 2011 – The IAFF is fighting back against politically motivated attacks on our members’ pensions. On February 9, the IAFF launched a public education campaign calling out politicians like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who use first responders as scapegoats for the financial woes of the nation’s states and cities. In a full-page ad in the February 9 USA TODAY, and in upcoming television spots and YouTube videos, the IAFF is asking for public support for the work fire fighters and paramedics do and the benefits they’ve earned. “After a Career Saving Lives, Politicians Want to Take Our Life Savings,” declares the USA TODAY ad. “This is truly an unfair attack, a political attack. It’s really just a smoke screen,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who noted that 10 national, state and local organizations recently issued a release disputing politicized misinformation about pension solvency. “We’re adding the voice of fire fighters to the growing campaign to protect vital public services.” In an article posted by In These Times, Schaitberger calls for dialogue, instead of an escalating war of words. “In an era of revenue shortfalls and budget deficits, fire fighters have become scapegoats of mayors, governors and corporate opportunists who have grossly misrepresented the facts in the public discourse over unfunded

pension liabilities,” he wrote. “What they’re not saying is that they are responsible for the unfunded liabilities,” Schaitberger continued. “They are responsible for riding the wave of pension plan investment profits and putting off making annual pension payments for years. They are responsible for creating pension payment holidays and failing to make actuarially required payments. Now their misjudgments leave them facing much larger pension bills.” Ultimately, the blame for the fiscal problems of local and state governments rests at the feet of Wall Street speculators who crippled the U.S. economy with what amounted to fraudulent investment schemes, Schaitberger says. And he accuses the same speculators of lining up to get their hands on fire fighter pension money. “We recognize that these Wall Street speculators are urging politicians to turn over our pension funds to them, in the form of riskier defined contribution retirement plans,” he says. “They have no problem risking our future if it lines their pockets.” Schaitberger says the IAFF will defend its members vigorously, taking the case directly to the public. “Our entire careers have been dedicated to protecting our neighbors and our neighborhoods,” he says. “We believe our neighbors will stand with us against these unfair political attacks.”

After a Career Saving Lives… Politicians Want to Take Our Life Savings Fire fighters and paramedics are dedicated to protecting the lives of our neighbors. Whether it’s a natural disaster, terrorist attack or another tragedy, we answer the call. But we are under assault by politicians who are using us as scapegoats – blaming us for the Great Recession caused by Wall Street. The attack on our pensions would devastate our retirement security. We understand that many Americans are hurting because of the Recession, but we will not apologize for putting our lives on the line, the dangerous work we do, or the pensions we’ve earned.

We’re Fighting Back, and Asking for Your Support When politicians attack fire fighters and paramedics, something is wrong. We’re citizens, just like you – Americans who work to better our lives and provide for our families. We’ve chosen a career in public safety to make our communities and our nation better, safer.

Correction

The Los Angeles Firefighter strives to maintain accuracy in all articles that appear in our union newspaper. In the January/February Issue on the Front Page article titled “Fire Consumes Printing Firm” the author should have read: Brian Humphrey, Spokesman Los Angeles City Fire Dept.

If politicians and Wall Street bankers succeed in their attack on us, then all Americans who work for a living will lose.

Photo By Michael Corral www.michaelcorral.com

May 4, 2011

STOP POLITICIANS FROM SCAPEGOATING PEOPLE WHO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY A message from the fire fighters and paramedics of the International Association of Fire Fighters. www.iaff.org

March / April 2011

Los Angeles Firefighter

2011-2012 UFLAC Executive Board PRESIDENT

Pat McOsker, Engineer................................... Fire Station 101-A

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Jeff Dapper, Captain I....................................Fire Station 88-B

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Frank Lima, Captain II.................................. UFLAC Office

TREASURER

Brian Hishinuma, Captain II......................... Fire Station 49-A

SECRETARY

Adam Knabe, Firefighter/Paramedic............Fire Station 87-A

DIRECTORS

Freddy Escobar, Apparatus Operator.......... Fire Staion 26-C Mike Tobey, Captain/Paramedic................... EMS 1-C Chuong Ho, Firefighter/Staff Assistant......... Fire Station 33-B Tony Gamboa, Apparatus Operator............. UFLAC Office Ted Nonini, Firefighter/Staff Assistant.......... Fire Station 42-B

BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE

Mike McOsker, ............................................... UFLAC Office

EAP DIRECTOR

Nancy Mraz, CEAP......................................... UFLAC Office

EDITOR

Adam VanGerpen, Firefighter / Paramedic..Fire Station 75 “A”

Services Directory

Union Office Phone Numbers Administration:

(213) 895-4006 - (213) 485-2091 - Toll Free (800) 252-8352 Benefits:

(213) 895-4990

FAX: (213) 250-5678

Website: www.uflac.org

EAP Office: (213) 895-0910 or (800) 252-8352 EAP FAX: (213) 481-1038 EAP 24 Hr. Help Line

Answering Service: (213) 250-1212 Affiliations International Assn. of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO-CLC California Professional Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor International Labor Communications Association, AFL-CIO-CLC Contributing Photographers Mike Meadows, Juan Guerra, Adam VanGerpen, Shawn Kaye, Michael Corral This union newspaper is printed by a union printer on union-made recycled paper.

Location – James A. Perry Labor Center

1571 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 Refreshments and Free Parking Available at both locations

Applying for a Service Pension (213) 978-4575 Applying for a Disability Pension (213) 978-4500 Applying for DROP participation (213) 978-4568 Buying Back Time (Academy Time, Bad Time, Prior Service) (213) 978-4522 Contribution Statements (For Divorce, Loans, Verification of Contribution) (213) 978-4522 Pre-Retirement Planning Seminars (213) 978-4522

Name, Address & Telephone Number Changes (213) 978-4575

(ISSN #0190-7573) Local 112, IAFF, AFL-CIO-CLC Official Publication of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City is Published Bi-Monthly Periodical Postage paid at Los Angeles, CA Known Office of Publication is United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, 1571 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90026-5798 POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to The Los Angeles Firefighter 1571 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026-5798

9:00 a.m., April 20, 2011, Wednesday, “A” Shift Working

ACTIVE MEMBERS

RETIRED MEMBERS

The Los Angeles Firefighter

9:00 a.m., March 23, 2011, Wednesday, “B” Shift Working

360 East Second Street, Suite 400 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 978-4545 www.lacity.org/pen

Domestic Partner Information (213) 978-4522

IAFF and AFL-CIO affiliates have prior approval to reprint or excerpt articles in the Los Angeles Firefighter — Please include credit line. Note: Photos and cartoons may not be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the photographer or artist.

General Membership Meeting

Department of Fire and Police Pensions

Refund of Contributions (213) 978-4522

This emblem on the masthead of any labor publication certifies that the publication is a member in good standing of the International Labor Communications Association and is bound to observe the ILCA Code of Ethics.

Page 11

Cost of Living (213) 978-4495 Direct Deposit (213) 978-4495 Tax Withholding (213) 978-4495 1099Rs (Year-End Tax Statements) (213) 978-4420 Health/Dental Subsidy (213) 978-4560 Health/Dental Plans: Fire Relief (Health Only) (800) 244-3439 UFLAC (800) 252-8352

If You See An Error…

The Los Angeles Firefighter strives to maintain accuracy and fairness in all stories, graphics, photographs and other copy that appears in our union newspaper. It is our practice to correct errors in the issue immediately following their discovery. If you have a correction or clarification request, please call the UFLAC office at (800) 252-8352 or email us at [email protected].

Check UFLAC Website For latest news, information and possible meeting date changes

www.uflac.org

Station Stewards March/April 2011

001 001 002 002 004 005 007 008 009 009 010 011 014 015 015 021 033 035 037 038 038 042 043 044 044 047 048 049 056 058 058 059 064 066 066 069 069 071 075 075 076 077 079 080 083 084 085 085 087 090 092 094 096 096 098 101 102 103 104 105 111 112 FPB DTFH VFP VPP

A B A A B A A C C C C C B A C C A C C C C C B A B B A C C B B A A A C A B B A C C C A C C A B C B C A A A B A A C C B B B C S S S S

Mark B. Stafford David Braun Michael Seiser Edward Larini Charles Garcia Mario A. Garcia Nicholas Gonzales Mark Kleckner Felipe Villegas Adrian Vasquez Kevin Willis Gregory C. Malais Ryan Jacob Cameron R. Kennedy Harold Raphael Hector Hernandez Craig Poulson Daniel Foote Christopher Martinez Rigo Arellano Richard Shortle Ruben Terrazas John Balich Charles Garcia David Raya Chris Stellern Hector M. Hernandez Stephen Meiche Oliver Fry Jose Holguin Christopher Bustamante Ryan Howes Ed Campos John Marasco Anthony R. Temple Marc Samama Raymond Cuevas Shawn Connolly Adam M. VanGerpen Daniel Castillo Francisco “Frank” Hurtado M. Benjamin J. Rossell Scott Carter Brendan O’Connor Benjamin R. Guzman Thomas G. Chamberlin John Maestri Charles Herrera Jeff Rickey Daniel Mattera Christopher Contreras John Cardenas Alicia Mathis James Krebs Dario Reyes Pat McOsker George James Robergt Perez Gken A. Kratkin Keith Massey Harold Hix John Donato Sidney Chambers Jacob Ryan Scott Miller Russell K. Rawls

Station Stewards Meetings Time: 7:30 a.m. Prior to Monthly Membership Meetings (Same location as the Membership Meeting)

Union Stewards Needed

We are in the process of reorganizing and updating our Union Stewards Program. It is our goal to have a Union Steward at every work location. Current and prospective Stewards are requested to contact the James A. Perry Labor Center at (800) 252-8352.

Newspaper Mailing List

If you are receiving this newspaper and have a change of address or would like to be removed from our mailing list, please call the union office at (800) 252-8352, Ext. 208 or email Maria Riggs at [email protected]

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Los Angeles Firefighter

March / April 2011

UFLAC Endorsements For L.A. City Council

District 2- Paul Krekorian

District 4 - Tom LaBonge

District 6 - Tony Cardenas

District 10- Herb Wesson Jr

District 14 - Jose Huizar

March 8th

District 12 - Mitch Englander

District 8 - Forescee Hogan-Rowels

Water Main Break Displaces Over a Dozen

On Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:12 AM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion

Chief John Potter responded to a Flooding at 16422 West Vanowen Street in Van Nuys. Firefighters arrived to find knee-deep water rushing down both sides of Vanowen Street,

Photo By Gene Blevins, EPN

entering residences and business in its path. The majority of the water flowed eastward from Havenhurst Avenue toward Odessa Avenue. Firefighters rapidly canvassed the area and accessed residences to ensure no one was trapped or injured. A series of holes were strategically created by Firefighters in exterior and interior walls of buildings to relieve pressure. LAFD personnel carefully carried pets and assisted families from apartment complexes to safety at a nearby parking lot. As many as 60 individuals were affected and over a dozen awaited assistance from American Red Cross.

Our friends at Department of Water & Power successfully shut down the water flow from a reported 20” water main around 5AM. No injuries were reported. The dollar loss is still being tabu-

lated.

By Erik Scott, Spokesman Los Angeles Fire Department

Photo By Gene Blevins, EPN

Single Family Fire in Northridge

Big Rig Vs Auto on Freeway

Photos By Juan Guerra, EPN

Photos By Shawn Kayne, EPN