IAFF 2446 - Palm Bay, FL

NEWS ARCHIVES

SEPTEMBER 2007

RECENT PROMOTIONS OF LOCAL 2446
Updated: September 15, 2007

Bill Yonce ... CDSC "A" Shift
Jim Hamor ... Lieutenant "B" Shift Station 92
Rob Plante ... Driver "B" Shift Station 94

Congratulations to all of you!

INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF ABRAIRA
Updated: September 15, 2007
By: David Ginsburg
I had the pleasure of spending several hours with Chief Abraira.   We discussed many topics both fire and non-fire department related. Chief Abraira comes highly regarded by many of the top union leaders in South Florida. Chief Abraira is excited to begin his Palm Bay career and plans to set his goals towards positive direction for the department. He will begin with instilling professionalism and pride from the top down to the bottom. He will expect his staff and all department officers to perform, to do the job and they will be held accountable for actions and non-actions. Supervisors will be expected to Supervise and to perform as officers of the organization. Grooming and Uniforms will be one of the first issues taken on, and this change will come quickly. The way we address officers is expected to change quickly as well.
    Chief Abraira seems to be a very fair and knowledgeable person and has been around the block a time or two, and while he maintains strong union friendships from his South Florida days, we should not expect that to sway any decisions he must make. Chief Abraira wants the "us" and "them" to stop and is a proponent of "we". This is now one department, union and management and we are here for the same reasons. We will work together to make Palm Bay not just the best, and most professional department but one that others stand back and marvel and want to emulate. This will take some time, but with solid leadership and positive direction it will happen. With change comes resistance and some members may disagree or resist certain coming changes. Chief Abraira states we will deal with that when or if it happens. Chief hopes all of us join him in wanting positive change and direction.
    Chief Abraira indicated that sometimes, when staff is away from what we do in the field it is possible to loose touch with why we are all here in the first place. You can expect Chief Abraira to start riding one 24 hour shift with a random station and shift at least once per month, and you can bet that when the "top" is doing ride along's, all staff will be doing the same. It keeps everyone in touch with the job. So, you can expect to see staff out from behind desks and in the field, and you can expect to see them doing ride along's as well. Change is here.
     I discussed a few rumors that have already surfaced. One, no way is it true that all current on board department members will be Paramedics within 3 years. Why? Stated the Chief. Where the hell did that come from? We may move to hire only Firefighter-Paramedics, but those on board now that are not currently medics have nothing to worry about. He did mention that he favors all medics doing rotations and using the skills they are certified in and he has a rotation style in mind to accomplish this. Chief does not feel it to be very fair to see some medics doing most of the calls and others may not be doing any. Rumors of heads rolling, not going to happen unless it is called for under Chief Abraira's reign. What has happened in the past is over. Everyone is on the same level and each one of us will dictate how he feels about us, and we will do that by our actions. He knows no one here and has no history with anyone here. Its a fresh start for everyone....top to bottom. No denim uniforms either, but he does have styles of uniforms in mind. Wearing shorts on calls or anytime outside of station life....history.     Over all, my first meeting with Chief Abraira was a wonderful experience and one that makes me and your entire Executive Board excited for the new era that he will bring to our department. We look forward to working with him and we look forward to the postive direction he plans for us all.

HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE

Members should read the yellow memo from the city manager that was included with your paychecks on Friday, November 16. It outlines the city plans for the insurance and gives important information on the enrollment period for certain benefits. The Union Presidents / Health Insurance Committee went down to Port St. Lucie to visit the employee health clinic on Friday, November 16. Details on the trip will be discussed with you at the December 5 meeting. The city council voted and approved a health clinic for employees at its meeting on November 15. The clinic will be open in early 2008 and will be located in Colony Square on Malabar Road.


NEWS	NEWS ARCHIVES SEPTEMBER 2007 RECENT PROMOTIONS OF LOCAL 2446 Updated: September 15, 2007 Bill Yonce ... CDSC "A" Shift Jim Hamor ... Lieutenant "B" Shift Station 92 Rob Plante ... Driver "B" Shift Station 94 Congratulations to all of you! INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF ABRAIRA Updated: September 15, 2007 By: David Ginsburg I had the pleasure of spending several hours with Chief Abraira. We discussed many topics both fire and non-fire department related. Chief Abraira comes highly regarded by many of the top union leaders in South Florida. Chief Abraira is excited to begin his Palm Bay career and plans to set his goals towards positive direction for the department. He will begin with instilling professionalism and pride from the top down to the bottom. He will expect his staff and all department officers to perform, to do the job and they will be held accountable for actions and non-actions. Supervisors will be expected to Supervise and to perform as officers of the organization. Grooming and Uniforms will be one of the first issues taken on, and this change will come quickly. The way we address officers is expected to change quickly as well. Chief Abraira seems to be a very fair and knowledgeable person and has been around the block a time or two, and while he maintains strong union friendships from his South Florida days, we should not expect that to sway any decisions he must make. Chief Abraira wants the "us" and "them" to stop and is a proponent of "we". This is now one department, union and management and we are here for the same reasons. We will work together to make Palm Bay not just the best, and most professional department but one that others stand back and marvel and want to emulate. This will take some time, but with solid leadership and positive direction it will happen. With change comes resistance and some members may disagree or resist certain coming changes. Chief Abraira states we will deal with that when or if it happens. Chief hopes all of us join him in wanting positive change and direction. Chief Abraira indicated that sometimes, when staff is away from what we do in the field it is possible to loose touch with why we are all here in the first place. You can expect Chief Abraira to start riding one 24 hour shift with a random station and shift at least once per month, and you can bet that when the "top" is doing ride along's, all staff will be doing the same. It keeps everyone in touch with the job. So, you can expect to see staff out from behind desks and in the field, and you can expect to see them doing ride along's as well. Change is here. I discussed a few rumors that have already surfaced. One, no way is it true that all current on board department members will be Paramedics within 3 years. Why? Stated the Chief. Where the hell did that come from? We may move to hire only Firefighter-Paramedics, but those on board now that are not currently medics have nothing to worry about. He did mention that he favors all medics doing rotations and using the skills they are certified in and he has a rotation style in mind to accomplish this. Chief does not feel it to be very fair to see some medics doing most of the calls and others may not be doing any. Rumors of heads rolling, not going to happen unless it is called for under Chief Abraira's reign. What has happened in the past is over. Everyone is on the same level and each one of us will dictate how he feels about us, and we will do that by our actions. He knows no one here and has no history with anyone here. Its a fresh start for everyone....top to bottom. No denim uniforms either, but he does have styles of uniforms in mind. Wearing shorts on calls or anytime outside of station life....history. Over all, my first meeting with Chief Abraira was a wonderful experience and one that makes me and your entire Executive Board excited for the new era that he will bring to our department. We look forward to working with him and we look forward to the postive direction he plans for us all. HEALTH INSURANCE UPDATE Members should read the yellow memo from the city manager that was included with your paychecks on Friday, November 16. It outlines the city plans for the insurance and gives important information on the enrollment period for certain benefits. The Union Presidents / Health Insurance Committee went down to Port St. Lucie to visit the employee health clinic on Friday, November 16. Details on the trip will be discussed with you at the December 5 meeting. The city council voted and approved a health clinic for employees at its meeting on November 15. The clinic will be open in early 2008 and will be located in Colony Square on Malabar Road.
Web Site Last Updated: February 13, 2008