Labor Relations February 2008

Present for the Union: President Ginsburg, Vice President Bliss, Secretary Grice

Present for the Department: Chief Abraira and Assistant Chief Renfro

Discussions related to: The request from the Union to keep the current department patch; Chief did consider the union request and made it a point that during his visits to the stations to discuss the patch. He found that most of the members really did not care what patch they wore on their uniform and that if there was any organized efforts to keep the current patch in place, it would have shown during his discussions. Based on his findings, the current department patch will get its place in our history and will be changed as planned.

Chief discussed the desire to replace the current Squad 92 with Truck 92, a 75’ Stick. This Truck Company would serve our city much better than the current Squad and would be an additional unit placed at Station 92. This could occur within 2 years. An aggressive plan has been put into place to replace Station 90 with a 4-Bay, 3-Story building just to the east of the current location on Palm Bay Road. The Chiefs office would be at Station 90; The plan also calls for a permanent structure for Station 94, a Re-build of Station 92 and the building and staffing of Station 95; A Training Center was also discussed. To pay for all this the city would be looking at either a major bond issue or implementation of a fire tax.

Discussion on the Transport issue is that other than lots of rumors but there are no real hard facts to present at this time.

Discussion on current polices and procedures that are in place but are not being enforced. Prepare for policy to be enforced. Discussed the Shift Trade polices and the enforcement and another meeting will be called to discuss the overtime that is caused by shift trades and the policy that prohibits it; Discussed overtime slips and they must be signed by the company officer; this is policy that has not been enforced but will be; discussed the assignment of personnel on float and the requirement to be at the assigned station by 0700 with gear. Company officer to make certain this is followed.

Discussed the Station Captain issue and both sides agree that since this position has yet to be approved by the city, there is no reason to discuss it further. Both sides know that the position is in our future however.

MDA Boot drop was discussed and Chief offers 100% support of the union efforts in this fund drive. Information on new state law that allows us to collect in the streets will be sent to the Chief, and a meeting will be set up between Chief Abraira, City Manager Feldman, President Ginsburg and MDA Chairman Glenn Martin will be called very soon to go over the details.