8th District Caucus

Jun 19, 2012   Time: 9:30AM – 2:30PM Location: Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites Details:   A block of rooms ($99.00 per night) are reserved for Monday, June 18th: Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites 120 W. Market St. Indianapolis, IN  46204 Call (800) 315-1906 and tell them you are with the “International Association of Fire Fighters to make your reservations. Deadline for reserving rooms is May 18th. More information on the agenda will follow when it is finalized.

Brothers and Sisters,

As most of you know, Pontiac Local 376 has been in a battle with the current emergency manager, Louis Schimmel, assigned to the City of Pontiac.  The EM wants to dissolve the Pontiac Fire Department and contract with the Township of Waterford to provide these services.

The Township of Waterford has proposed a 2012 budget which includes $6.2 million in revenue from the City of Pontiac for fire protection, and shows an expenditure of $4.4 million to provide that protection.  The "proposed plan" includes Waterford hiring, up to, 42 Pontiac personnel to provide, up to, 12 personnel on duty each day.  Waterford officials have tried to pressure the Waterford Fire Fighters Local to accept concessions for new hires that would include, among other things, a healthcare insurance premium co-pay to comply with PA 152, a defined contribution retirement plan, and any Pontiac members hired to be placed at the bottom of their seniority list.  To date, Waterford Local 1335 has advised MPFFU President Mark Docherty, IAFF 8th District VP Paul Hufnagel, and myself that they have taken no action to make these concessions.  We also have a meeting scheduled with members of the executive boards of both the Waterford and Pontiac locals for next week.

To date, there is no evidence of a formal written plan for the fire protection to be provided in/to Pontiac, nor any written agreement or contract between the City of Pontiac and the Township of Waterford to provide any services.  As yet, the township board in Waterford has neither included this issue on any agenda, nor have they officially made this known to their citizens.

On Tuesday, December 6, the Pontiac Fire Fighters held an informational picket in Waterford opposing the actions of the emergency manager and PA 4.  This action was not taken in an effort to picket the Waterford fire fighters, as they too have been placed in the middle of this deplorable situation.  The Pontiac fire fighters, and the members of other Locals, who came out to oppose the EM and PA 4, were peaceful and professional in their picketing. 

The position of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union and the International Association of Fire Fighters is to support our union brothers and sisters in both locals, and to promote cooperation to resolve this issue in a way that is beneficial to both.  Neither the MPFFU nor the IAFF support the hostile takeover of Pontiac's fire protection as proposed by Pontiac's EM and Waterford Township officials.  Should the EM succeed in dissolving the Pontiac Fire Department, the MPFFU and IAFF support, and encourage, a true merger of both unions and their members through joint negotiations involving both locals and the employer. 

Hopefully, this clears up any rumors that have been spread regarding this contemptible situation.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

with honor, dignity and integrity,

Daniel A. Dawe

6th District Vice President

Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union

248.227.8055  (cell)

517.579.3975  (fax)

www.mpffu.org

Our deepest sympathy go out to Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Wright and his family. We received news this morning that his Father, Gary Wright, has passed away. The services will be held at Hill Funeral Home, located at 11723 S. Saginaw St, in Grand Blanc. The funeral services will be held this Tuesday at 1900, with visitations on Monday from 1700-2000 and Tuesday from 1600-2000. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Please keep the Wright family in your thoughts and prayers. 

Today we remember the 2819 people that lost thier lives on 09/11/2001.  Of those 2819, 343 FDNY Firefighters, 23 NYPD Police Officers, and 37 Port Authortiy Officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families affected by this tragity.  You are not forgotten and you're sacrifice will be honored.