Sisters, Brothers, Family and Friends,

Thank you for revisiting our web site. If this is your first time visiting, thank you for taking the time to view our web site. I hope you will find it informative and interesting.

It’s been a few months since I was able to post a presidents update. I was thinking that I would wait until a slow period to catch everyone up on our issues, however that slow period never seems to arrive. So I will take a few moments now to share our progress with you.

2006 proved to be a very successful and hectic year for our local union.  During the early part of the year we saw success with our mandatory overtime issue which involved fire fighters being forced to work overtime hours at straight time pay. With many thanks to our Fire Chief and the 3 Battalions, we were able to reach a compromise and produce a policy change that will limit the circumstances in which a fire fighter may be required to work overtime at straight time pay. This is a prime example of what can be accomplished by labor and management working together on issues.

I am very happy to announce another successful “Relay for Life” and I would like to thank all who participated in this worthwhile event. I’d like to give a very special thanks to Chairman Ricky Weneck and Co-Chairman Ronnie Lewis. Their leadership made this a flawless event.

In early 2006 I appointed Brother David (Smitty) Smith as Chairman to our newest formed committee, our Membership Committee. Although I expected a positive result from this appointment, I had no way of knowing just how successful this committee would be. Under the leadership of Chairman Smith, our local has grown by over 20% in less than twelve months. This incredible increase was also due to the hard work of our newly elected Secretary/Treasurer, Clyde Longest in June 2006 he has worked day in and day out contacting every member insuring their dues status was current. He has also encouraged past members as well as nonmembers to rejoin or join this ever growing union. Brothers Longest’s dedication and persistence has made 2006 a year of tremendous growth. This was possible and with the assistance of all 3 shift Vice Presidents, William Lugo, Andrew Waters and Ronnie Lewis. I can hardly wait to see next year’s membership size.

Along with growth came added benefits and protection. I initially appointed our Director of the Board of Trustees, Alan Turner, to the chairmanship of the newly formed “Toxic Exposure/Injury Form” Advisory Committee. Membership Chairman Smith agreed to the position of co-chairman. Together, the entire executive board we will insure that members have the forms and knowledge in when and how to complete and file an IAFF Local 2498 TEF Form. Last month Brother Turner turned the chairmanship over to Brother Smith. Chairman Smith will be reasonable to scan all received TEF’s into confidential data folders along with all current membership documents. Since the first of the year we have seen an increase of over 50% in TEF completions. We are doing much better than years gone by, but we can still improve in protecting our future by completing a TEF on every possible exposure and or injury. Contact Smith or Turner for comments, questions and concerns.

An additional challenge came to our local when our MDA committee’s plans to conduct a countywide “Fire Fighter Fill the Boot” campaign came to an immediate halt with the arrival of Tropical Storm, Ernesto. This forced our fire fighters to work mandatory overtime in order to removing fallen trees and answering a huge increase in emergency calls instead of contributing our time to MDA. But in true fire fighter fashion the local made a donation to MDA from the general fund and promised the MDA that we would make it up to them next year by holding our best fund raising year to date.

As we speak, Vice President Andrew Waters is organizing our local’s first MDA Golf Tournament. As always, I have no doubt our local will set a new standard in fund raising. My hat off to Brother Waters for stepping up to the plate and taking on this time demanding initiative.

As all York County Fire Fighters are aware, our careers may be in jeopardy if we can not work out a reasonable solution to the misinterpretations and misuse of NFPA 1582. The IAFF staff who led in the drafting and approval of the standard has agreed to come down from Washington DC and assist all the parties involved in reaching a better understanding of the intent of NFPA 1582. The meeting is set for December 8th 2006. I hope we reach a reasonable compromise. Over the last several months, the local has seen a dramatic increase in union meeting attendance and they have demanded definitive action to correct this situation. This meeting will be an attempt to work out a solution “In House”. The Executive Board has been ordered to take all action necessary to reach a resolution. You have our word we will do just that in order to protect York County Fire Fighters and their families.

In order to provide much needed job protection to our members while the mandatory physical problems are worked out, local 2498 has stepped up its “Job Related Injury & Illness Protection Plan”.  We have asked Dr. Bernacki from Riverside and Workers Compensation Attorney, Michael Kernbach to assist us and they both have agreed and are eager to help our members protect their jobs and families. We are also emailing and snail mailing our members information on the importance of completing the “VWCC Blue Form” on every job related injury or illness no matter how minor. The local will pay all costs for legal council and filing of documents.

We have added the forms to our web site www.iaff2498.org  All three Vice Presidents have been tasked with insuring that any member on their shift who is injured, exposed or is diagnosed with a Job Related illness complete the proper paper work in the time allotted.  PLEASE keep in mind that the paper work included in the “QUICK FAX” paper work located in the fire station is NOT the document needed to protect YOU. YOU must complete a BLUE FORM and your local union officers can help you.

If you are a member of local 2498 you are STRONGLY encouraged to find a primary physician who is certified in Occupational Medicine immediately and have that physician conduct “Fit for Duty” physicals. Results from these physicals can not be shared with the county physician. This will allow for an equally qualified “Second Opinion” in the Court Room. This is another way for YOU to protect your job from the county’s mandated physicals. Remember to “Follow the Money”. Loyalty remains with the person or agency paying the freight. The IAFF and the VPFF are also very involved in helping our local on this issue.

On a more positive note, I have worked very closely with our local’s Secretary/Treasurer, Clyde Longest and our Director of the Board of Trustees in drafting our 2007/2008 Local Agenda and Short Term Budget. While in the process we also drafted a Long Term Budget that goes out to 2010 in order to provide for long term planning. During our General Membership meetings in November 2006 our Agenda, Short Term and Long Term Budgets were approved during the 1st reading.  Our second and final reading will be held between 0830 and 0900 on both December 12th & 13th 2006. This will be at our 30 minute General Membership Meeting which will be followed by our Annual Open House/Meet & Greet from 0900hrs – 1900hrs both days.

During 2006 we forged new relationships with area businesses and organizations to share common concerns and goals. We now have a commitment from the York County Fraternal Order of Police to work on issues that affect both of our members. Issues to be addressed are association dues pay roll deduction, staffing concerns, Sick Leave value in York County just to name a few. I look forward to working side by side with their president to ensure our members receive the fair pay, benefits and treatment they earn every day while serving York County citizens.

That very briefly describes the activities at a local level, now on to the state level. There is not much to report for 2006. Partly due to some Republicans not wanting to reach an agreement on our state wide transportation problem here in Virginia. While Virginia Senators on both sides of the aisle were willing to work with our Governor, the House Republicans practiced partisan politics and for that reason nothing was done for transportation and public safety for Virginia Fire Fighters. While this news is disappointing, just keep in mind “Elections are Coming”.

2006 may have started with nothing being accomplished in Virginia, but it sure didn’t end that way. With the final result of the 2006 elections. We have again proven to be players in the game of politics. We organized our forces and worked hard to elect friends of public safety and to the proud men and woman who serve while removing our enemies from office. Not only were we successful in Virginia, we were successful nationwide. With our bipartisan approach to endorsements and support we have gained respect for our work with political campaigns at every level of government. Now we must work with our elected officials to move our agenda forward. An agenda that includes job protection, safe staffing, health care, pay, benefits, pension protection and other issues that will affect our members and their families.

As a result of our bipartisan politics we had a very successful year in Washington DC. We assisted our International to ensure passage of the following pieces of legislation by calling, writing, emailing and visiting our US Senators and House Representatives.

SAFER Funding, FIRE Act Funding, FEMA Reform, Medical Monitoring Bill, HELPS, 

We were also in clarifying language in the PSOB Act Regulations with regards to Heart Attack and Stroke. The IAFF has also created an On Line Help Page to assist affiliates understand GASB 45.  We are also going GLOBAL…by working together on issues that affect all fire fighters we can become even more affective by learning from one another from a world wide level.

And last but certainly not least, the IAFF has joined forces with the National Paramedic Institute to offer CE credits for IAFF members. Check the IAFF web site for updates www.iaff.org

We are also working side by side with our brothers and sisters of the AFL/CIO/CLC to increase the Minimum Wage. 29 states have already increased their minimum wage and its time for Virginia to step up to the plate and “Do the RIGHT Thing”. We will work to assist our brothers and sisters of UAW 831 who remain on strike by asking our members to make a donation so that their children will have something under the tree this year.  We worked with labor on the WEBB campaign who won by 7000 votes. Keep in mind that in August when the AFL/CIO endorsed WEBB he was down 16 points.. LABOR pulled him through…

Our NFPA Chairman Andrew Waters and EMS Committee Chairwoman Melissa Doak kept us on top of all the issues that directly or indirectly affected our jobs during 2006. Weather on the fire or EMS side of the field we never missed a beat. I personally rely on their attention to detail to keep me informed and trust their recommendations to what extent we need to be involved on these decisions and changes before they take affect. We will be increasing our involvement in a proactive posture during 2007 on both the NFPA Committee as dues paying members and on the VPFF EMS Committee of which Sister Doak will soon be appointed by my strong recommendation to the VPFF President.

Director Board of Trustees/Fund Raiser Chairman Alan Turner has advised me that our 2006 Previous Donor Fund Raising Letter was sent out Thanksgiving Week. Please be sure to thank him for all time and effort insuring that our 2006 fund raising goals were met.

When you see Brother Wesley Bowen please thank him for his fund raising effort in support of Local 2498. As you may or may not know he plays in a band called 10 Foot 6, during their performance they ask for donations to the York County Professional Fire Fighters. It actions like this demonstrate what Unionism is all about. Brother Bowmen truly sets a higher standard. Please thank him and ask him where and when is next gig is then show up with friends and family to support his efforts.

WELL! You must be tired of reading and my fingers are starting to cramp. I hope this updates you on our 2006 activities, from saving several members careers, educating on just what “RISK Management” in localities means to them, growing our local by leaps and bounds, expanding our services to the membership, engaging in political races at every level of government and developing a budget and agenda to take us into the future while protecting our members pay, benefits, safety and job security.

While the end of 2006 is in sight, we now gear up for 2007 which will involve stepping up our political action in York County to insure our Sick Leave has some value, our association dues is payroll deductible, there is progress towards meeting the Minimum Safe Staffing Levels in York County and providing a choice in 457k’s ending the ICMA monopoly in York County.

We will be getting involved intimately and at a level never before witnessed in the York County Board of Supervisors Election and the 2007 state elections. We will continue to work to ensure our members are not being discriminated against during their mandatory physicals as a result of age, race or gender. We will insure that if the county continues to use NFPA 1582, they use it the way it was intended and the difference between incumbents and candidate are truly understood. This may have to be done in a court room.. Time will tell. We will also be conducting a investigation to indicate which NFPA standards York County Fire & Life Safety meets, does not meet and which ones they have decided to adopt and not adopt and understand the reasons behind those decisions.

Also in 2007 our local will be holding its annual elections. This year the President, 3 Vice Presidents and 1 Trustee will be up for election. Nominations will be taken in April 2007 with elections being held in June 2007.

In closing, I wish you all and your family a Happy Holiday Season, A Merry Christmas and a Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year. Remember Brothers, Sisters and family members. This organization IAFF Local 2498 is yours. We work for YOU. Take ownership, ask questions, make comments, and attend meetings and most of all “Get Involved” No one looks out for you like the York County Professional Fire Fighters. The Proof is in our union actions, not just words and empty promises.

Be Safe Out There!

Donald Michael Dinse, President
YCPFF's IAFF Local 2498

www.iaff2498.org
Office 757 532 3337
Fax 757 345 6033