State Rank and File Report

January 14^th, 2012

Basic Representation

We just finished the Basic Representation class for 2012. The main instructors were Liz Brown of San Bernardino, Gary Messing of CBM, Jenny Horst of our office, and me. Tim Edwards was the Class Coordinator, and logistical support was provided by Doug Mackey, Doug Freeman and Joey Howard. While we had very little time to prepare for the class (the lead instructor was relieved due to personal problems only a week before), the class was very well received. Evaluation comments were almost universally good.

In addition, I found that retaking the reigns and teaching new representatives was of enormous benefit to me. It puts me in contact with our front line and allows me direct input to new representatives. Though it is very time consuming, I am recommending to the Executive Board that future State Rank and File Representatives be made aware that one of their responsibilities is to teach new reps, not just insure that they are taught. To that end, I will retain the lead instructor role for the rest of my tenure.

NASA and U.S. Dept. of Interior Grants

The Firefighter Health and Safety/Staffing research group has submitted a proposal to NASA for a joint venture to continue our research into wildland firefighter health and safety. Our proposal for a grant from NASA includes testing CO levels in a variety of ways. It also includes monitoring wildland fires from satellite, and from NASA unmanned drones. While there is quite a lot of competition, we seem to be well placed. Stay tuned. In addition, the IAFF is working on a Department of Interior grant to fund the bulk of our research for the next three years.

EIDL Redefined

In conference with Kristine Rodrigues, Cal Fire and CDF Firefighters have come up with a more acceptable definition of “serious injury”. The definition that had been used by OSHPros had the unfortunate effect of denying EIDL to almost every employee who applied for it. The new definition which was drafted by Kristine Rodrigues in concert with Gary Messing and me, is more in tune with the intent of EIDL as it was bargained for. Kristine will use the new definition to determine eligibility on an individual basis, and she will be the person making the decision. I believe this to be a vast improvement over past processes.

Vacation Bidding

There are still apparently problems with the vacation bidding process. The 2007 Vacation Settlement agreement requires that each unit have a matrix, calendar, computer spreadsheet, or some such, that shows available vacation dates for each bidding module. Bidding modules vary from unit to unit. This matrix is passed about the module starting with the most senior employee who choose their vacation dates up to the total time they earned in that calendar year. The matrix is then passed to the next most senior employee in the module who does the same, and so on down to the least senior employee. Each employee can see what has already been taken and what is still available. All bidding is done in broad daylight with total transparency, as required by the settlement. When the least senior employee bids, there must be at least one two week stretch left on the matrix, as well as some other single shift periods to bid on. There are problems in several units right now, but these are being worked upon. If your unit does not have a system that meets the description above, it is probably in violation of this settlement.

Returning Firefighter Qualifications Draft

Cal Fire and CDF Firefighters are meeting next week to look over and discuss the Department’s draft of proposed changes to qualifications for returning firefighters. These are primarily testing procedures for seasonals and LTs, but the Department has included testing for other classes, as well. Kevan Fox, from Humboldt-Del Norte is assisting me with this meeting.

Miscellaneous

Other issues that Rank and File became aware of in the last month were a multitude of Riverside issues including volunteers driving Cal Fire employees on fire apparatus, San Diego shift changes for senior employees, the new Camps Committee meeting with George Nunez as the CDF Firefighter’s Chair, and meetings between Riverside’s new Chapter Rank and File Director, Jim Yazloff, Kristine Rodrigues, and me. It has been a busy four weeks, holidays or no.

Ken Hale

State Rank and File Director

CDF Firefighters, IAFF Local 2881