National Capital Federal Fire Fighters

What's New at IAFF F121

Posted On: Sep 16, 2011 (09:13:21)

The IAFF Burn Foundation will be hosting the International Burn Camp from September 24 through September 30, 2011 This internationally acclaimed program brings young burn survivors (ages 13 to 15) and an IAFF fire fighter/camp counselor from each of the more than 40+ regional burn camps across the United States and Canada to Washington, DC for a once in a life-time trip.

This year that camp has moved from its previous Silver Spring location and it is now be based in southern Anne Arundel County, MD at Camp Wabana. This retreat is located about 20 minutes south of the US Naval Academy off of Rt 2 in the Edgewater / Mayo area.

As part of this special week, we are hoping that you will join us at two of the events. For the first time ever, the IAFF will be hosting a Camp Carnival Day. This day is an opportunity for IAFF Members to participate in this worthwhile event and really play along with the campers. Please join us on September 28 at Camp Wabanna, located at 101 Likes Road, Edgewater MD, 21037 between 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm. We are looking for interested members willing to staff various events. If you can help out please drop an email to burncamp@iaff.org.

At the end of Carnival Day at approximately 2030 hrs the campers will experience another first, this time courtesy of all the Federal Locals in the National Capital area. Through the generous donations of more than 6 locals and a wonderful pyrotechnics company, the campers will be treated to a fireworks display in a "Red, White and Blue" theme.

The following day, Thursday Sept. 29, our local will play host to the campers and counselors for a full day at the US Naval Academy. The day begins about 0840 when the campers will arrive at the USNA Visitor's Center where they will participate in a directed tour of the Academy. Then at 1030 the campers will be invited to swim in one of the indoor pools located on the Academy grounds. You are welcome to join these wonderful kids in the swim from 1030 until 1230.

Finally, our day with the campers heads towards the finish line with a catered Pizza Party lunch at "The Drydock" located on the Academy grounds.

Again, if you wish to participate in "Carnival Day" on Wednesday afternoon Sept 28 please rsvp to Burncamp@iaff.org. If you wish to join the kids for a swim, report to the fire station at the Naval Academy by 0930 on Thursday Sept 29.

ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN THE FUN!

The work you, and our E-Board members, do on behalf of those who have suffered a burn injury is truly appreciated. We hope to see you at the Carnival and/or the Swim.

Together, we are Helping Heal Bodies, Hearts and Souls!

IAFF Concerned About Navy’s Dis regard for Obama Executive Order

Posted On: Mar 11, 2011 (11:25:28)

Documents obtained by an IAFF Local indicate that Navy officials are contemplating closing a fire station at the Washington Navy Yard in the Washington, DC area.

The IAFF is not clear on how the Navy plans to provide fire protection to the Navy Yard. The Navy may try to convince the District of Columbia to provide fire protection and EMS services to the Navy, but the City has its own budget problems. "We really have no idea what the plans are since we are not involved in these discussions or decisions," says National Capital Professional Fire Fighters Local F-121 President Greg Russell. "The documentation we have seen advises officials that they're not to reveal any pre-decisional discussions to the unions."

The IAFF and Local F-121 are dismayed that senior Navy officials are blatantly disregarding an Executive Order issued by President Obama in 2009 requiring federal agencies to create labor-management forums and to “discuss workplace challenges and problems with labor and endeavor to develop solutions jointly, rather than advise union representatives of predetermined solutions to problems and then engage in bargaining over the impact and implementation of the pre-determined solutions.”

Since May of 2010 the National Capital Professional Fire Fighters Local F-121 has been attempting to establish a labor-management forum with the Navy in accordance with the Executive Order. Local F-121 became aware of the documentation exchanged between senior Navy officials that confirmed that the Navy is discussing closing the fire station at the D.C. Navy Yard to reduce costs.

"We should all be concerned when it becomes evident that federal agencies are disregarding the orders of the president of the United States to include stakeholders in pre-decisional matters," says IAFF 16th District Vice President Jim Johnson. "These agency officials have lost sight of who they work for or they just don’t care. Either way it is dereliction and disrespectful."

Trade of Time Bill Re-Introduced in House of Representatives

Updated On: Mar 09, 2011 (21:46:00)

The President of the National Capital Federal Fire Fighters wishes to express the profound gratitude of this Local's membership to Congressman John Sarbanes for his hard work on behalf of the federal fire fighters within this IAFF Local and all federal fire fighters employed across this great nation. I am proud to count Congress Sarbanes, and the entire Sarbanes clan, as friends of the IAFF and all fire fighters!

Gregory Russell,

President

National Capital Professional Federal Fire Fighters,

International Association of Fire Fighters Local F121

Congressman John Sarbanes,
Representing Maryland's Third District

March 09, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Brianne Nadeau
March 09, 2011	Phone: (202) 225-4016
E-mail: Brianne@mail.house.gov

Sarbanes Re-introduces Firefighter Fairness and Flexibility Act

Washington, DC – Today Congressman John Sarbanes re-introduced the Firefighter Fairness and Flexibility Act. This legislation, which passed the House of Representatives during the 111th Congress but died in the Senate, would correct a longstanding disparity between professional firefighters who are employed by States, counties, or municipalities and federal firefighters.

In 1985, Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act so that firefighters around the country could engage in a practice called “trade time.” Trade time allows two firefighters, solely at their option and with the approval of their supervisor, to trade shifts without affecting the pay of either firefighter. The Congress made this change because firefighters work uncommon schedules involving 24 hour shifts and 72 hour work weeks, followed by a period of time away from the firehouse. Trade time enables firefighters to meet personal obligations such as attending a child's birthday or assisting a sick family member without exhausting their annual leave. It also ensures that firehouses across the country can maintain staffing requirements and keep our communities safe.

“Federal firefighters work side-by-side with their non-federal colleagues, so this is an issue of equity,” said Sarbanes. “Correcting this inequity will help federal agencies recruit and retain firefighters. Just like other firefighters, federal firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis. They also accept the irregular hours that their jobs require. This legislation merely gives them some modest flexibility to balance that irregularity and meet their family obligations.”

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Annapolis Office:
Arundel Center
44 Calvert St. Suite 349
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 295-1679
Fax: (410) 295-1682

Towson Office:
600 Baltimore Avenue
Suite 303
Towson, MD 21204
Phone: (410) 832-8890
Fax: (410) 832-8898

Washington, D.C.
2444 Rayburn
House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4016
Fax: (202) 225-9219

General Membership Meeting

Updated On: Feb 25, 2011 (07:54:00)

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

You are invited to join President Russell and members of the Local E-Board for a General Membership Meeting on March 11 & 12, two weeks from today. IAFF 16^th District Vice-President Johnson will be a special guest at these meetings.

On Friday March 11, 2011 the meeting will begin at 1900. The meeting will take place at Florian Hall (IAFF Local 1619 Union Hall) located at 13701 Jericho Park Road in Bowie, Maryland.

The following morning, the meeting will move south. On Saturday morning March 12, 2011 the meeting will take place in the conference room located at the Hampton Inn Waldorf starting at 0830. The Hampton Inn is at 3750 Crain Highway in Waldorf, Maryland.

We hope you will join us for this meeting.

Gregory Russell

President

Navy Settles Overtime Pay Dispute With Federal Local F-121

Posted On: Oct 22, 2010 (19:27:06)

The United States Navy has agreed to a settlement in a dispute before the Federal Labor Relations Authority after the National Capital Professional Federal Fire Fighters Local F-121 filed charges for failure to bargain. The Navy had decided to use military reservist fire fighters in place of civilian fire fighters at one of the Naval District Washington locations for a three-month period to reduce unscheduled overtime.

Local F-121 attempted to bargain the change in working conditions for the civilian federal fire fighters, but the Navy refused.

“Just days before a hearing scheduled before an Administrative Law Judge in Washington, DC, the Navy agreed to compensate employees for the lost unscheduled overtime,” reports Local F-121 President Greg Russell.

IAFF 16th District Vice President Jim Johnson says, “This is another example of the IAFF and our local leaders doing their job and protecting the rights of our members in the federal sector commented 1n. “Local F121 is to be commended for their actions in ensuring compliance with federal sector labor relations laws.”

Download:

ULP Settlement - Military Reservist.pdf

Federal Firefighter Trade of Time Bill Passes

Updated On: Oct 02, 2010 (15:19:00)

Legislation to allow federal fire fighters to exchange shifts without impacting their pay was passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives in the very early morning hours on September 30.

The bill, H.R. 3243, was introduced by Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD) after Local F121 President Gregory Russell brought forward the problems Federal firefighters were having in gaining access to Trade of Time flexibilities. The legislation crafted by Mr Sarbanes, in collaboration with the Local F121 President, is aimed to rectify a loophole in the law that kept federal fire fighters from swapping shifts outside a pay period in the way that many municipal fire fighters do.

“The National Capital Federal Fire Fighters are protecting important federal institutions like the U.S. Naval Academy and Fort George G. Meade every day,” said Congressman John Sarbanes. “I am pleased to be working with them to correct this legal technicality, which has made it difficult for federal fire fighters to balance their demanding schedules with personal obligations like a sick family member. I hope we can resolve this issue and allow federal fire fighters to take advantage of the same common sense trade time policies that are available to state and municipal fire fighters.”

“I’d like to thank Representative Sarbanes for the hard work he and his staff put forth on this important issue,” said Local President Gregory Russell. “Members of my Local and all Federal fire fighters protect some of the most prized installations that are on the frontline of our National defense. Along with that huge responsibility comes an extremely large number of duty hours. Working those hours takes its toll on family and relationships. Our goal with this Bill is allow our Federal firefighters to enjoy a leave flexibility common to municipal fire department employees so that they may enjoy quality time with their family. With the enactment of the law that will come out of H.R. 3243, those flexibilities will be granted to Federal firefighters.”

H.R. 3243 was among the final bills considered before the House recessed for the November elections. The legislation now proceeds to the Senate where the IAFF team will continue to work for its passage.

Trade of Time Bill Advances in U.S. House

Posted On: Sep 24, 2010 (16:12:33)

Yesterday morning the House of Representatives “Committee on Oversight & Government Reform” held an open hearing. On the Committee’s agenda was our Federal Fire Fighter’s Trade of Time Bill, HR 3243, which amends section 5542 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that any hours worked by federal firefighters under a qualified trade-of-time arrangement shall be excluded for purposes of determinations relating to overtime pay. In simple words, this amendment to Title 5 of the United States Code would authorize Trade of Time arrangements between two qualified fire fighters as a matter of law and would eliminate the subjectivity that surrounds Trade of Time arrangements throughout the Federal Fire Service. When the matter was called before the Committee, this Bill reportedly received positive comments and support from both the Committee Chair and the Ranking Minority Member and it was ultimately passed on a voice vote.

The passage of this Bill speaks well for this legislation that was introduced on our behalf by Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD 3^rd District). Congressman Sarbanes and his Capitol Hill staff have worked with our Local’s leadership and kept us informed of the Bill’s status all along the way. Earlier this summer, the Bill ran into some opposition but we were able to overcome those concerns by having our Local leadership, IAFF 16^th District Vice-President Johnson and the IAFF Governmental Affairs staff work closely on the matter with Mr. Sarbanes lead staff member and the Government Reform Committee.

Passage before the Committee is a very positive step however the Bill still has a number of procedures to go before it can become law. Next up is a vote before the full House of Representatives. At present, there isn’t a date scheduled for that vote. However, we are working closely with Hill staff to get this Bill heard on the House floor as soon as possible.

The IAFF & your Local’s leadership are continuing to work on moving the Senate’s companion Bill, S-3365, forward in that body. The Senate version of the Bill was introduce by Virginia Senator Jim Webb. We believe there may be some movement on the Senate side in the near future but the exact timing and method of the movement remains the subject of ongoing discussions on Capitol Hill.

Presently there are a very limited number of legislative days remaining before this term of Congress expires however I remain hopeful that the efforts began over three years ago will result in a positive Federal Fire Fighter friendly law before the conclusion of the 111^th Congress at the end of December.

R/
Gregory Russell,
President
IAFF Local F121

Uniform Allowance UPDATE

Updated On: Jun 15, 2010 (10:48:00)

If you have not received all of the Uniform Allowance funds listed on the attached spreadsheet please let me know as soon as possible what you haven't received. For those due some kind of outstanding allowance, if you can provide me information about the funds you have received such as date and amount it would be helpful.

If you believe the information on the speadsheet is wrong, such as you started at NDW in a different Fiscal Year than is shown or other discrepancies, please let me know and send me any supporting documentation you may have that supports your position, such as an SF-50 or the like. Please give me as much information as possible that will help me make your case to the Navy.

If you are a retiree or former employee or friends with an retiree or former employee listed please share this email with them.

Retirees / Former Employees need to complete the attached SF 3881 form and fax it back to the union office at 410-293-5670. If you can scan it and email it back, that will work too. I will get these turned in to the appropriate personnel so that you may finally get your long past due uniform allowance.

Thanks & Be Safe

Gregory Russell,

President

National Capital Professional Federal Fire Fighters,

International Association of Fire Fighters Local F121

O:(410)293-5669 or C:(443)496-1590

Service Representative, IAFF 16th District

Federal District Representative, Maryland Professional Fire Fighters

Download:

SF 3881 ACH.pdf,

Copy of FIRE RETRO PAY Uniform Allowances version2.xls

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