IAFF 2446 - Palm Bay, FL

NEWS ARCHIVES

JULY 2007

CONTRACT STILL DELAYED
Updated: July 11, 2007
The latest crap out of city hall regarding our Collective Bargaining Agreement is that a conference call will take place Monday, July 16 at 11am between the city and the actuaries. Lee Feldman says we should know something by the end of the day Monday. This remains to be seen as this has been told to us before. Once approved and released by the city, we can then come around to the facilities to discuss the entire agreement. We will leave a copy with each facility and return the following week for voting. This of course is only after the city gives us the ok that we indeed have a tentative agreement.

CONTRACT ON IT'S WAY TO YOU....
Updated: July 23, 2007
Finally, after back and forth discussion between city council, city staff and the pension actuaries the tentative collective bargaining agreement will be on its way to you within the next week or so. Final reviewing is being done and then the tentative agreement will be brought to each facility, discussed, left with you and then voting will take place a week later. Should the contract be ratified by the members then it would go back before city council for final approval and implementation. Should it be rejected, then it goes back to the bargaining table. The contract calls for improvements in wages and pension and some concessions that will be discussed with you when the E-Board comes around.

PALM BAY HAS NEW FIRE CHIEF
Updated: July 21, 2007
Lee Feldman announced the appointment of our new Fire Chief at the city council meeting on July 19. Chief Steve Abraira was welcomed in a short ceremony in front of City Council, the Public and many on and off duty firefighters from management and from the local. Chief Abraira promised that change was coming. We have good feelings about Chief Abraira. We are currently conducting a reference check with our friends down in South Florida where he had a long 26 year career before moving on to the Dallas Texas Fire Department where he has been for the past 5 years. The E-Board plans an interview with Chief Abraira within the next few weeks and the text of that interview will be placed on the site. Chief Abraira will officially start on September 10 and takes full command on September 29. We wish out going Chief Hellmann the best of health and leisure in his retirement.

PROPERTY TAX ISSUE LOOMS
Updated: July 21, 2007
On Thursdday, Vice President Ginsburg spoke personally with City Manager Lee Feldman regarding the Property Tax Issue, as well as the delay in the contract approval. Mr. Feldman gave assurances that the contract delay has nothing to do with the Property Tax issue and futher assured that the 2006-07 pay increases will go on as negotiated no matter what the property tax issue does to city revenues. However, after the statewide vote takes place in January 2008, if the loss of revenues is as high as expected, then cities and counties statewide will be declaring "Financial Urgencies" or claiming the "inability to pay" and no one knows exactly what will happen at that time. This is not a Palm Bay Issue, rather a Statewide issue. You need to stay up on this as it progresses to the vote in January. If voters approve it, then things will change for everyone.


NEWS	NEWS ARCHIVES JULY 2007 CONTRACT STILL DELAYED Updated: July 11, 2007 The latest crap out of city hall regarding our Collective Bargaining Agreement is that a conference call will take place Monday, July 16 at 11am between the city and the actuaries. Lee Feldman says we should know something by the end of the day Monday. This remains to be seen as this has been told to us before. Once approved and released by the city, we can then come around to the facilities to discuss the entire agreement. We will leave a copy with each facility and return the following week for voting. This of course is only after the city gives us the ok that we indeed have a tentative agreement. CONTRACT ON IT'S WAY TO YOU.... Updated: July 23, 2007 Finally, after back and forth discussion between city council, city staff and the pension actuaries the tentative collective bargaining agreement will be on its way to you within the next week or so. Final reviewing is being done and then the tentative agreement will be brought to each facility, discussed, left with you and then voting will take place a week later. Should the contract be ratified by the members then it would go back before city council for final approval and implementation. Should it be rejected, then it goes back to the bargaining table. The contract calls for improvements in wages and pension and some concessions that will be discussed with you when the E-Board comes around. PALM BAY HAS NEW FIRE CHIEF Updated: July 21, 2007 Lee Feldman announced the appointment of our new Fire Chief at the city council meeting on July 19. Chief Steve Abraira was welcomed in a short ceremony in front of City Council, the Public and many on and off duty firefighters from management and from the local. Chief Abraira promised that change was coming. We have good feelings about Chief Abraira. We are currently conducting a reference check with our friends down in South Florida where he had a long 26 year career before moving on to the Dallas Texas Fire Department where he has been for the past 5 years. The E-Board plans an interview with Chief Abraira within the next few weeks and the text of that interview will be placed on the site. Chief Abraira will officially start on September 10 and takes full command on September 29. We wish out going Chief Hellmann the best of health and leisure in his retirement. PROPERTY TAX ISSUE LOOMS Updated: July 21, 2007 On Thursdday, Vice President Ginsburg spoke personally with City Manager Lee Feldman regarding the Property Tax Issue, as well as the delay in the contract approval. Mr. Feldman gave assurances that the contract delay has nothing to do with the Property Tax issue and futher assured that the 2006-07 pay increases will go on as negotiated no matter what the property tax issue does to city revenues. However, after the statewide vote takes place in January 2008, if the loss of revenues is as high as expected, then cities and counties statewide will be declaring "Financial Urgencies" or claiming the "inability to pay" and no one knows exactly what will happen at that time. This is not a Palm Bay Issue, rather a Statewide issue. You need to stay up on this as it progresses to the vote in January. If voters approve it, then things will change for everyone.
Web Site Last Updated: February 13, 2008