Union Meeting
Our next two-shift Union Meeting will be July 13 & 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will be held at Mid-Town Plaza, 330 West Gray Street, lower level, conference room. Please have agenda items to Dennis Mitchell by July 6, 2009. You must be present to win the $225 door prize. (Union Meeting...)
2067
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Big 12 News
- Contract issues persist for Austin's firefighters UT The Daily Texan - Austin,TX,USA With new negotiations underway between city staff and the city's police union and Emergency Medical Services, the firefighters union may start new ...
- City, firefighters begin contract negotiations Lawrence Journal World - Lawrence,KS,USA Firefighters and police officers negotiated a 1.5 percent general wage adjustment for 2009, after protracted negotiations that required a federal labor ...
- Lincoln Firefighters Now Subject to Random Drug Testing KOLN - Lincoln,NE,USA Mayor Chris Beutler and the local firefighters union signed a drug testing agreement Monday morning that will require Lincoln firefighters and paramedics to ...
Fire Links
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at 7:00 p.m. Agenda items due by July 6th, 2009 to the Union Secretary. (Union Meeting...)
More Union Business
grantprogram and $380 million for Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) grants in 2010.
(More...)
Other International News
The NFD looks to added changes with a 15 member recruit academy set for early in 2010.More NFD News
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2067
Norman,
Oklahoma - Thank you for your interest in the IAFF and the Local IAFF 2067. Our
goal is to maintain the highest level of safety for our members in
an effort to serve the Norman community during emergency responses.
We continue to strive daily in helping the citizens of Norman obtain the highest level of emergency service possible,
while making every assurance that each and every member of the
International
Association of Firefighters Local 2067 are equally compensated
as professional firefighters & emergency responders.
We are proud to serve Norman. We are proud to fight for and defend the rights of Firefighters and the rights of our community in pledging the finest, safest, and progressively motivated Fire Department possible. Thank you for visiting.
Features & Updates
| Local 2067 News & Updates | IAFF International News & Updates |
|
**
International FireWire
- Your Multi-wire News Source ** (an IAFF Local 2067 Exclusive News Portal.) |
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July 1, 2009 - The first meeting of the IAFF2067 Clothing Committee will take place on July 8, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. at Fire Station #7. All those interested in being a part of this committee, please make arrangements to attend. (Clothing Committee...)
Help
Preserve the Memory of FDNY Fire Fighters of September 11
(International Association of Fire
Fighters)
June 29, 2009 - The National September 11 Memorial Foundation has informed Michael Burke and other families of FDNY fire fighters killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks that ranks and affiliation will not be included on the Memorial Wall in New York City because New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chair of the Memorial Foundation Board, believes such distinctions will cause visitors to mourn the death of the plane's captain or a fire captain more than the death of the plane's passengers or the civilian the fire fighter was trying to rescue. "This is a disgrace," says IAFF 1st District Vice President Kevin Gallagher. "To not honor our fallen brothers with their rank is wrong. We cannot let their sacrifice go without the proper recognition for the courageous acts they performed." (Read More...)
Supreme
Court Rules for White Firefighters Over Promotions
(Associated Press)
June 29, 2009 - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday in a 5-4 decision. The city said that it had acted to avoid a lawsuit from minorities. The ruling could alter employment practices nationwide and make it harder to prove discrimination when there is no evidence it was intentional. "Fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions," Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his opinion for the court. He was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
In dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the white firefighters "understandably attract this court's sympathy. But they had no vested right to promotion. Nor have other persons received promotions in preference to them." Justices Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens signed onto Ginsburg's dissent, which she read aloud in court Monday.
Kennedy's opinion made only passing reference to the work of Sotomayor and the other two judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who upheld a lower court ruling in favor of New Haven. But the appellate judges have been criticized for producing a cursory opinion that failed to deal with "indisputably complex and far from well-settled" questions, in the words of another appeals court judge, Sotomayor mentor Jose Cabranes. "This perfunctory disposition rests uneasily with the weighty issues presented by this appeal," Cabranes said, in a dissent from the full 2nd Circuit's decision not to hear the case.
Monday's decision has its origins in New Haven's need to fill vacancies for lieutenants and captains in its fire department. It hired an outside firm to design a test, which was given to 77 candidates for lieutenant and 41 candidates for captain. Fifty six firefighters passed the exams, including 41 whites, 22 blacks and 18 Hispanics. But of those, only 17 whites and two Hispanics could expect promotion.
The city eventually decided not to use the exam to determine promotions. It said it acted because it might have been vulnerable to claims that the exam had a "disparate impact" on minorities in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The white firefighters said the decision violated the same law's prohibition on intentional discrimination.
Kennedy said an employer needs a "strong basis in evidence" to believe it will be held liable in a disparate impact lawsuit. New Haven had no such evidence, he said.
The city declined to validate the test after it was given, a step that could have identified flaws or determined that there were no serious problems with it. In addition, city officials could not say what was wrong with the test, other than the racially skewed results. "The city could be liable for disparate-impact discrimination only if the examinations were not job related" or the city failed to use a less discriminatory alternative, Kennedy said. "We conclude that there is no strong basis in evidence to establish that the test was deficient in either of these respects."
But Ginsburg said the court should have assessed "the starkly disparate results" of the exams against the backdrop of historical and ongoing inequality in the New Haven fire department. As of 2003, she said, only one of the city's 21 fire captains was African-American.
Until this decision, Ginsburg said, the civil rights law's prohibitions on intentional discrimination and disparate impact were complementary, both aimed at ending workplace discrimination. "Today's decision sets these paired directives at odds," she said. (Justice: New Haven test rejection was political...) (New Haven Fire Fighters Prevail...)
"Pulling
for Rick" Golf Tournament
(Golf Tournament Flyer)
(Additional Fundraisers)
June 22, 2009 - Union members have gathered together to organize a benefit golf tournament in support of Rick Bacon in the aftermath of the accident in which he is still recovering. The tournament will be held at Winter Creek Golf Course on July 20, 2009. Specifics include the following:
4 Man Scramble
July 20, 2009
$300 per team / $75 per player
8:00 and 1:00 Flights
First 18 Teams each Flight Includes Lunch, Cart and Range Balls
Autographed OU Memorabilia Auction
Please contact Grant Deason at (405) 301-3840
NOTE: If you are currently in the process of organizing a team to compete in the tournament, please let Grant Deason know. He is now working on the schedule and needs to determine the teams involved. In addition, he is asking for volunteers to help during the tournament. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Call him at the number listed above.
Budget
Cuts, Back Room Deals, and Death: The Anatomy of Fire Cuts
(FirefighterHourly.com)
Blog Posting...
June 20, 2009
- [A] friend in Philadelphia is given credit for inspiring this
post. Read his post
here.
The response to the fire wasn't normal. Too few units, caused by
budget cuts, arrived on scene later than normal. Two firefighters
attempted to reach the victim but were unable to as flames consumed
the home. One of the firefighters, exiting the structure in Flint,
Michigan, was on fire. He blames budget cuts. He's right. Now he is
speaking out and a national movement is slowly gathering steam.
Philadelphia, Atlanta - and the list includes cities you wouldn't expect - are victims of budget cuts and shady back room deals. Self appointed budget slashers combined with a small number of firefighters (in a few cities) who have lost the will to fight are putting people lives in danger. Being convinced the only thing that matters is numbers, firefighters are now looking at the potential for catastrophic loss of life.
This is the issue - how can a person with integrity or moral fiber knowingly participate in cuts that endanger the public and their fellow firefighters? Even if we take away the emotional component and look at it as strictly business why are firefighters participating in decisions that may cause loss of life?
The answer is they justify it to each other as the price of doing the job. Politicians help them by assuring them it's the only way whilst in most cases those same politicians don't want to do the cuts alone. They know if they are forced to make the cuts the blame lies squarely on them so they bring in people they can point to when it all goes bad - "these firefighters agreed!"
The IAFF is working feverishly to help stem the flow of budget cuts nationwide. As the principal lobbying group in America for firefighters, the IAFF is urging the federal government to offer more money. It will come but it takes time.
Some departments don't have the time to spare. The future is now but the reasons for making decisions must be sound. Getting charmed by political operatives is nothing new but the sting of death or injury on the hands of those who purport to protect life is damaging.
The incident in Flint, Michigan made news on the same day as the anniversary of the Charleston 9. If ever there were clear indications that there is more to being a firefighter than mere numbers that day stands as an example.
115th
Oklahoma State Firefighters Convention Report
(submitted by NFD Delegates to the Convention, Jason T.
Smith & Nick Terhune)
June 19, 2009 - The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association held its 115th convention June 3-6, 2009 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Conference’s theme was a, “Bond Forged by Fire Cannot Be Broken.” OSFA President Ray Hammons (Tahlequah), the executive board and staff and the Tahlequah Fire Department joined forces to host this five day event.
NFD/IAFF Local 2067 representation included: Grant Deason, Dana Cramer, Butch Crawford, Bobby Anderson, Justin Burright, Jason Smith, Nick Terhune and Jesse Baldwin.
Please read through the complete and comprehensive report on this years OSFA Annual Convention. Jason & Nick did a great job of hitting every highlight. You will find it informative; the good, the bad, and even some ugly. (The 115th Annual OSFA Convention Report...)
Firefighters
Sound the Alarm on High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a national health crisis that impacts
approximately 74 million adults in the United States, and about
one-third are unaware of it.
(NewsUSA)
June 19, 2009 - Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with a higher risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
Sounding the alarm on the high blood pressure epidemic, fire fighters all across the country from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, have launched a program called the Stop, Drop, Control High Blood Pressure Program in May, which is also High Blood Pressure Awareness Month.
This is a first-of-its kind community health campaign to educate both the 300,000 IAFF members who protect 85 percent of the nation's population, as well as the communities they serve about fighting high blood pressure. More than 240 IAFF locals are now equipped to host community blood pressure screening events in their communities.
Fire fighters, who face extreme physical and psychological stresses in their work protecting their communities, have a high rate of on-duty deaths caused by heart disease (45 percent), -- and high blood pressure may be one of the contributing factors.
"Professional fire fighters are among the most trusted and respected leaders of their communities, and know first-hand the dangers of high blood pressure," said Harold Schaitberger, IAFF president. "As such, they are ideal advocates to educate communities about important health and safety topics, including high blood pressure." (Read more...visit www.stopdropcontrol.com...)
Firefighters
See Cuts Eroding Safety
(USA TODAY)
June 19, 2009 - Thousands of firefighters across the country face possible layoffs this year, prompting concern that deep local government budget cuts will delay emergency response times.
Since late last year, cities have been forced to shutter local fire stations, reduce services at others and cut the number of firefighters dispatched on emergency calls. Firefighting positions have been eliminated or are on the chopping block in cities such as Orlando, Atlanta, Flint, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio. "Whatever you do that results in increasing response times (to fires), you are absolutely playing Russian roulette," says Harold Schaitberger, head of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).
Up to 5,000 firefighting jobs could be in jeopardy, according to an IAFF survey of members, which includes 292,000 firefighters. Among those facing the most severe cutbacks:
- The elimination of 22 firefighters and other cuts in Flint,
Mich., are being blamed by some residents and fire union
officials for slowing the response to a fatal fire in April.
Mark Kovach, vice president of the local firefighters union, believes the lack of a nearby ladder and water truck taken out of service by cuts hampered the rescue. Flint Mayor Michael Brown believes the tragedy "could not have been avoided." - In Atlanta, personnel shortages have forced 24-hour closures of several fire stations and the city's overall public protection rating was downgraded this month. The lower rating could result in up to 10% higher insurance premiums, says Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine. "The most important function of any government is the protection of life and property," he says.
- Proposed budget cuts in Columbus are targeting 238 firefighters and seven of the city's 32 fire stations, says Battalion Chief David Whiting. "These cuts would set us back 10 years," he says.
- Orlando officials will lay off 46 firefighters, effective
Oct. 2, says union President Steve Clelland.
The issue has become so heated that a labor dispute and threatened picket lines involving Providence firefighters forced Obama administration officials to cancel appearances at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting there.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano acknowledged the troubles facing local fire agencies when she told a Senate panel last month that the administration would double hiring assistance to fire departments to $420 million in 2010. (MORE: Fingers point to city's cuts in fatal fire...)
Ruling
Clears Union
(The Lewiston, Maine Sun
Journal)
June 17, 2009
- Ten union firefighters suspended last spring without pay for
backing selectmen candidates have been exonerated by an independent
arbitrator.
The town of Rumford must pay them for the lost time, expunge the
disciplinary action from their records and refrain from interfering
with Local 1601 of the International Association of Firefighters
Union and its members when engaged in protected union activities.
"The town doesn't plan to appeal the decision," Town Manager Carlo
Puiia said Tuesday. He declined further comment. "We're just happy
that it's done with, that it's over," fire Chief Gary Wentzell said.
The affected firefighters were union President Mark Tripp, who was
suspended for a week in June 2008; Richard Coulombe, Jeff Harren,
Keith Bickford, Chris Bryant, Ed Carey, Butch Glover, Bill Johnston,
Ben Byam and Rob Dixon, who received one-day suspensions in June and
July.
Arbitrator John C. Alfano of Biddeford said the town didn't have
just cause to discipline the members for instigating or
participating in activities supporting candidates for selectmen. (Read
More...)
Did Firefighters Stand a Chance
Against Sotomayor?
In a newly released video, Supreme Court nominee gives clues to the
reasons that may have been behind her reasoning to vote against the
Connecticut men who claimed reverse-discrimination.
(FoxNews.com)
June 12, 2009 - More than a decade before New Haven, Connecticut firefighter Frank Ricci and 20 colleagues had their case before Judge Sonia Sotomayor's court, a newly released video reveals that she spoke at length about some of the racial issues central to that case and gives clues to the reasons that may have been behind her reasoning to vote against the men who claimed reverse-discrimination.
It is this case, Ricci v. DeStefano, more so than any of the thousands of rulings in Sotomayor's 17 years on the federal bench that has become the legal focal point of her forthcoming confirmation hearing to replace Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court.
The new video which dates to the early 1990's shows a wide-ranging discussion of legal and social issues. It was part of Sotomayor's submission of documents and videos to the Senate Judiciary Committee for examination and scrutiny by the senators who will ultimately pass judgment on her. (Read More...)
ICMA
Eyes Down Gun Barrel with Sweeping Changes at Broken Arrow Fire
Department
(The Broken Arrow Ledger)
June 11, 2009 - A consulting firm has recommended sweeping changes in the Broken Arrow Fire Department, including closing one station, dropping one or two ambulances and moving away from traditional 24-hour firefighter shifts.
ICMA Consulting Services, a private firm staffed by police and fire experts, suggested Broken Arrow spends too much on fire assets that aren’t used very often. Rather than spending most of their time at fire stations waiting for calls to come, firefighters should be more involved with preventive measures, including doing inspections of homes and commercial sites and providing community education, the firm’s two reports said.
The city should also require sprinklers and fire abatement systems in more homes and buildings to lessen the need for such a large firefighting system, it said. The analysis was requested by the city as it seeks to enhance services while staying within the confines of its budget, said City Manager Jim Twombly.
Twombly said the reports, which he will present to the city council on June 29, did not relate to his recent decision to place Fire Chief Jackie Carner on administrative leave. He declined to discuss his reasons but tensions between the department and city manager have been rising. The recommendations, which Twombly will endorse, are expected to be opposed by firefighters. (Read More...)
Firefighters
Most Trusted Group in Europe & U.S.
(Reuters.com...)
June 5, 2009 - Firefighters are the most trusted professionals in Europe and the United States, and politicians the least, with bank employees considerably less trusted than a year ago, according to a survey out on Friday.
After a year in which much of the world slid into recession led by a crisis in the financial sector, just 37 percent of respondents to a survey by market research institute GfK said they trusted bankers, compared with 45 percent a year ago. Firefighters were trusted by 92 percent of respondents, and politicians by 18 percent.
Some of the biggest variations between the countries included in the survey -- 16 European countries and the United States -- were found in levels of trust in the church, the police and judges.
The clergy is trusted by 88 percent of Romanians but just 26 percent of Greeks, for example, while just 37 percent of the Russians surveyed said they trusted the police, compared with 88 percent in Germany. Bulgarian judges won 31 percent approval, while in Poland 86 percent said they trusted judges.
Overall, teachers came in third, followed by postal workers, doctors
and the armed forces in joint third place.
Politicians were least trusted in Greece, with just 6 percent of the
vote, and even in the top-rated country for politicians, Sweden,
they won only 38 percent approval.
Advertising professionals were second-least trusted after politicians, and top managers third-least. Journalists were the sixth-least trusted of the 20 professions covered by the survey, with a 41 percent rating.
GfK surveyed 17,295 people in February and March 2009 for its annual poll.
Fire/EMS
Safety Week
"Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your
Responsibility"
(Tentatively scheduled for June 16th, 17th, and 18th in Norman.)
June 3, 2009 - Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages all fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety. This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.
Safety: Emergency Driving (enough is enough—end senseless deaths)
- Lower speeds—stop racing to the scene. Drive safely and arrive alive to help others.
- Utilize seat belts—never drive or ride without them.
- Stop at every intersection—look in all directions and then proceed in a safe manner.
Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention
- Don't smoke or use tobacco products.
- Get active.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get regular health screenings.
Survival: Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness
- Keep apprised of different types of building materials and construction used in your community.
- Develop a comprehensive size-up checklist.
- Always complete a 360° walk of the structure to collect valuable, operational decision-making information.
- Learn the practice of reading smoke.
- Be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.
- Learn your accountability system and use it.
- Master your tools and equipment.
- Remain calm and concentrate.
The IAFF encourage all Norman Firefighters to devote this week to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness, in particular. An entire week is provided to ensure that each shift and duty crew can spend one day focusing on fire fighter safety, health and survival. The Norman Fire Department is currently working together with the IAFF to organize on June 16th, 17th, and 18th as our three shifts dedicated to the topic of "health" as our focus point during this year's 'stand-down'.
Keep watching the Safety Week website for more information on this year’s program.
NFPA
Releases Fire Fighter Injury Report
(International Association
of Fire Fighters)
June 3, 2009 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released an analysis of fire fighter injury data from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The analysis was undertaken to examine factors that are beyond the scope of the results obtained in the annual NFPA injury survey.
Results were analyzed for the 2003-2006 period, during which there was an estimated annual average of 40,270 fire fighter fire ground injuries in the United States. Of these, an average of 29,710 were classified as minor, and 10,560 were classified as moderate or severe.
The statistics in this report demonstrate that fire fighting presents substantial risk of personal injury to fire fighters. Click here for a complete copy of the report.
IAFF Local 2067 Union Officer Elections
May 30, 2009 - There will be a Ballot Box Vote for the election of Union Officers on June 28, 29, & 30, 2009. This election is in accordance with Article 5 of the Local 2067 Constitution & By-Laws. There shall be no voting by proxy in the election of Local officers (Article 5, Section 5). The office of Secretary/ Treasurer shall serve a two-year term while the Executive Board shall serve a one-year term. You can post your name on the memo(s) on your Station-Union bulletin board(s) for sign-up. You will have until June 24th to submit your name in order for ballots to be prepared. (Executive Board...)
May 26, 2009 - Our next two-shift Union Meeting will be July 13 & 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will be held at Mid-Town Plaza, 330 West Gray Street, lower level, conference room. Please have agenda items to Dennis Mitchell by July 6, 2009. You must be present to win the $225 door prize. (Union Meeting...)
May 10, 2009 - During the April 27th and 28th Union Meetings a motion was made and passed to develop both a Recreation Committee and a Yearbook Committee. These are to research and plan future Union sponsored events, such as a Firefighters Ball and possibly a Lake Party, and to update the Fire Department yearbook & Department group picture every five (5) years.
Both will be posted as a sign up sheets for those interested in participating on these committees found on your Station bulletin boards.. You will be called personally to insure that you were the one that signed your name to the list.
Norman
Firefighters "Pulling For Rick" with Fundraiser
Rick has now been discharged from the Jim Thorpe Rehab
Center, at home and resting comfortably...
May 8, 2009 - It was learned that a former part-time work associate, Chuck Rayshell of "Prairie Graphics", has generously donated 150 t-shirts with a special graphic to help raise some additional funds in support of the Rick Bacon Relief Fund. (T-shirt ...)
Because of this donation, the Norman Firefighters are raising funds to assist with medical expenses for Training Chief Rick Bacon who is still recovering from this serious accident. We are selling tee shirts for $10.00 each. The tee shirts can be obtained at Fire Station #7 (2207 Goddard). We also have Pulling for Rick wrist bands for $5 each. Please make checks payable to the “Rick Bacon Relief Fund”. You can contact me on my cell at 818-6421 if you have any questions.
We also have the wristbands for a minimum donation of $5.00 each in an effort to help and support Rick and his family through this recovery. Anyone wishing to assist us in helping Rick and his wife meet some of the financial obligations associated with the accident may contact Norman Fire Administration at (405) 292-9780 or drop by any one of the seven Fire Stations listed below to obtain one of these wristbands. Anyone wishing to simply donate may do so by depositing funds directly into the Rick Bacon Relief Fund at any First American Bank, which may be contacted at 579-7000. Checks should be made payable to the "Rick Bacon Relief Fund". Thank you for all your support and concern.
- Station #1 - 411 E. Main Street
- Station #2 - 2211 W. Boyd Street
- Station #3 - 500 E. Constitution
- Station #4 - 4145 W. Robinson Street
- Station #5 - 1050 168th Ave. NE
- Station #6 - 405 E. Alameda Street
- Station #7 - 2207 Goddard Ave
