Union Meeting tonight 6/21

Just a reminder there will be a Union Meeting tonight that will be open to ALL MEMBERS of the Fire Department. Two health care representatives will be there to answer questions about our new health care.

Union Hall is located at:

   2302 West Main St. Richmond VA 23233

Beat the Heat

Just a last FYI, today is the last day to sign up for Beat the Heat.
http://www.richmondfirefightersbeattheheat.org/cms/

Mutuals

We heard some rumblings about this when the City transferred to the RAPIDS timekeeping software but we are starting to hear more unsettling news. Basically, since the RAPIDS program wants us to log in and log out of work, we will only be able to work mutual within the SAME PAY PERIOD. WOW. So much for the brotherhood. If true, you can't come in early for someone cause that would be overtime. You couldn't hang over for someone cause that would be overtime.  We really hope this isn't true. Really, really hope this isn't true.

Chief, if this is being pushed on you by the city, here is an opportunity to win back some support from your firefighters. STAND UP for us. You know we aren't like every other city department. We have to pick vacation a year in advance, we need this trade time. It is essential to us and our families. For us to see our kids play baseball, our families on vacation and stay at home just a little longer on Christmas cause you know your brother/sister is covering you. You have a golden opportunity to fight for us. Time to be a leader.

Oh an the city is pretty pissed about the fire department needed an note for every day we mark off sick and that being a cause for rising health care cost. What do you think getting rid a mutuals is going to do?

Really hope this isn't true.

All Quiet

We are still alive and running. Haven't heard from the Chief since he has been waiting for Fitch to tell him how to run the department...Please send us some topics if you got them.

Meanwhile back to centrelearn....

Tobacco Policy

Sent to us by a follower, what are your thoughts?

Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have.Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie.

^{How dare our fire chief pretend that he wants to honor our fallen brother (big Dave) by asking our department to be smoke free. This is what he says in a letter to the department:  "it seems that the best way to continue that support is for each of us to pledge and commit ourselves to making RFD a smoke free fire department for big Dave". Our local 995, yes the one that Big Dave Pulliam lead for 25 years, has asked numerous times for the Creecy administration to consider a no tobacco policy.  Pulliam and Andes have both supported the no tobacco policy on behalf of the members of 995.  This idea was effortlessly dismissed by our fire chief.  The 995 supported it because of the cancer presumption bill that effects firefighters.  Almost all of the surrounding FD's have tobacco policies and have done so for many years.  You might be able to fool the mayor Chief, but you can't fool the members.}  

^{The local 995 has asked numerous times that the Creecy administration support CPAT, (which he openly says is discriminatory against blacks and females, even though it is backed and certified by the international association of fire chiefs) Fit For Duty, yearly physical fitness testing, mandatory on duty PT, and a yearly CPAT or RPAT test.  All of these have been denied by his administration and he wants us to believe that he cares about our well being and health? Come on man!!  Now he will tell you otherwise, and that all of these things are "in the works" and that someone (the xo) is "bird dogging" it, and that he is try to find the data to support the programs and meeaasure the results.  No more buzz words and BS Chief!!  Make a decision, stop playing politics, take care of the troops (requested by big Dave right before he passed), and get it done.  Take notes from one of your mentors, ex-Chicago fire commissioner Robert Hoff.  He was a fireman's chief, he stood up for his men, and when he was asked by the mayor to go against his morals and values and to jeopardize his men's safety, he handed the mayor his badge and said not on my watch.}  

Passing of Lt. Dave Pulliam

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Lieutenant David Pulliam. Thoughts and prayers go out to Chief Pulliam and his family during this difficult time. He did wonderful things for this department and the Local 995. He will be truly missed.

Safety Meeting Review

Here are just some key talking points of Tuesdays meeting.

First of all thanks again to Capt Andes for a great speech and bringing these issues to the committee.

Fire Chief Spoke

• Phase 1 purchased of trucks to the tune of 5.1 million for 7 trucks
• Phase 2 is on order to bring 2 105' Quints and 1 pumper
• Two trucks have completely broken down since last meeting and would have cost 30,000 dollars to repair. There was a concern that firefighters would come to work and not have a truck to ride on since the fleet is in such bad shape
• Phase 3 of truck ordering will start next budget year

Councilman Jewell asked about manpower, staffing and why is there a need for two trucks in the station and if quints were necessary

Chief: Stated the model was hotly debated when the quints came and still is debated to this day. Most cities use Quints as Ladder trucks

Councilman Jewell: Are we winning or losing the debate on the quint concept?

Chief: After phase 3 we can being to modify deployment model based on the Fitch and Associates recommendations. We wouldn't have gone to far down the road of ordering new pieces to change our deployment model. We needed to get new trucks on the road to replace old ones and stop spending so much on repairs

Councilwoman Graziano: Asked if the study would show that we don't need Quints

Chief: Very possible because the data and economics may drive that decision. Considered having just a reserve fleet but the question would be how many to keep in reserves

Councilwoman Graziano: Will the study show what truck works best in what part of the city?

Chief: Yes and the smaller 75 Quints will help relieve driving issues

Chief also stated the issues of food planning for long term incidents and the honor guard have been addressed.

Councilwoman Trammell stated again that if there was ever another time when firefighters or police don't have the food they need she would get it for them and to call her with any issue

Capt Andes spoke on Quint concept and Zoll camera systems and vacancies.

Councilwoman Graziano: Talked to chief about budget issues and how to save money.

Chief: Found a savings of 741,000 dollars in fire department budget

Committee wanted him to go deeper and ask Capt Andes to provide them with the cost comparisions of a Quint vs an Engine.