International
Association of Fire Fighters State Association
--Always
on the Front Line Protecting "New Jersey's Bravest"-- --Established 1929--
Member
of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO
Welcome
to the home page of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, proudly
representing the interests and concerns of New Jersey's Bravest and their loved
ones.
We
encourage our membership to periodically, if not several times daily, review the
contents of this web site and it's various departments, in order to remain up
to date and conversant on the issues facing our profession in the 21st century.
In the event you need more specific or additional information,
we further encourage you to submit your inquiry or commentary via e-mail to pfanj@pfanj.org.
We will endeavor to provide any needed information or address any concern in a
timely manner.
What's New at the PFANJ:
January 25, 2012
President McManus, President Marino and all State Reps and Local Leaders,
I will be out of the Country and unavailable for normal daily communications during the week of Feb. 6th. I will be returning on Monday Feb. 13th. During my absence, I would ask that all emergency Local issues be addressed through our State Presidents offices and they may assign State Reps as needed. I would ask all Local leaders to contact your State president’s office for any such emergencies.
I still will be available for e-mail communications for all non-emergency issues and will respond to them as I feel necessary during my week away. I would ask that my State Presidents and State Reps keep me in the loop through e-mail communications during my absence, of any issues they may deem important. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Any questions feel free to contact me prior to my departure.
Fraternally,
Kevin E. Gallagher
1st District DVP
To all members:
The Legislators have begun to pre-file legislative bills. Since Tuesday January 10th, there are over 2000 bills already filed. After going through all the bills we have found at least 30 Senate Bills and 70 Assembly bills that touch on firefighters or Emergency Medical Personnel in some way. We are in the process of evaluating these 100 bills and also are going over the list of bills again to ensure that we didn't miss anything. We will have a complete up date as soon as possible. As you can imagine, it will take some time to go through all the bills. We will post a list as soon as we can. Check the website periodically for any updates.
In the meantime, there are legislative bills that you can assist with at this time. Click here for that list. If your legislator is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of the following bills, contact them and ask them if they would be willing to sign on as co-sponsor. When you get a response, email the state office so we can follow up on it.
PFANJ Valor Award Ceremony – 3/29/12
We encourage all locals to submit the applications as soon as possible. An online copy of the application is available here. The dates for recognition are January 2011 through December 2011. This year’s Valor award program will be on Thursday March 29th at 6pm.The applications must be in the state office no later than Wednesday February 29, 2012.
SAFER GRANT APPLICATION INFORMATION 2012
To: State Presidents McManus, and Marino; all State Representatives and Local Union Leaders:
The application period for this year’s SAFER Grant is quickly approaching. We were very successful with last year’s Grant process, because the IAFF took an active role in providing assistance to our Local Leadership and to their Chiefs and Municipal Leaders to assure that the applications were filled out properly and that each met the necessary criteria to receive the Grant. In all, 20 locals applied for Grants from the 1st District and we were successful in 18 of those cases, due to a cooperative effort between those Locals and our IAFF staff.
I am asking once again, that each Local who will be seeking a grant this year, contact me in advance to notify me that your city/municipality has agreed to pursue this Grant in order to bring back laid off members; or because they are anticipating losing members during this fiscal year; or that they are looking to replace members lost through attrition; and finally, that they are looking to increase their manpower to enhance service to their community.
Remember this process cannot begin without the cooperation and support of your Chief and/or City managers. Also remind them that this is free money for a two year period being offered by this Federal Government Assistance Program through FEMA and will pay for all costs associated with salary and benefits for any members hired through this program.
I am asking each State Representative/Vice President/District Leader, to poll your Local leaders to find out which Locals are looking to participate in this year’s Grant Process and if they have approached their respective City leadership to seek their cooperation. I would also like to know, if they are seeking to replace laid-off members, or are anticipating lay-offs, or are looking to replace members lost through attrition and finally looking to enhance their work force through new hires as well as how many members they will be requesting. I will also need contact information for the person handling this process for each local, including e-mail address and contact numbers.
Once I compile this list, I will forward it to the IAFF Grant Director’s Office, who then will assign some staff member to contact each Local as a follow up. Doing it this way proved very effective last year, but time is running short. Anyone anticipating a need for this Grant should be working on gathering the information needed NOW, and should be reviewing last year’s application in preparation of the new application becoming available shortly. The sooner you have the application in your hands and the sooner you get it in, the better chance you will have to prepare for a successful Grant, with the assistance of our IAFF Staff.
Please do not delay in gathering this information. The Grant Application period is short and many locals will be applying at the same time. I need your cooperation, to assure that our District’s SAFER Grant applications get top priority and the only way to do that is to notify me and be prepared to expedite your application draft to our staff for their review. Your quick response to this request will be greatly appreciated.
Fraternally,
Kevin Gallagher
ALL MEMBERS ARE URGED TO CALL SENATOR PAUL SARLO
URGENT! YOU MUST ACT NOW!
December 29, 2011
We have received word that Senator Sarlo has been getting a lot of pressure from the Governor and Republicans to amend his sick leave legislation to remove any payment of sick leave and then move the sick leave legislation (S-2220). The republicans and the governor have gone as far as ROBO calls to Senator Sarlo's phones.
He needs to hear from you.
Let him know that you support his statement that:
"any accrued compensation based upon accumulated unused sick leave shall,
upon retirement, be eligible to receive for any unused leave not more than
the amount so accumulated or not more than $15,000, whichever is higher"
He needs to have supporters to stay strong to his legislation.
If all he hears from are those that oppose this, then he will waver!
If you have a phone system to contact your members,USE IT.
Tim Colacci
PFANJ PFRS Trustee Candidate.
Ballots will be out March 1st.
All members are asked to support our Candidate.
FF Colacci is available to meet with any local that requests a meeting.
Contact the State office.
To All EMT-B's Who's Certification Expires on June 30, 2012 The Office of Emergency Medical Services will launch a new certification platform in February of 2012. You will be notified via e-mail when the new system is operational. You will be expected to complete your next recertification application in the new system after meeting the recertification requirements. The new Learning Management System (LMS) will include a calendar for EMT Initial and Refresher courses, as well as, EMT Certification Examinations. The catalog of EMT Elective programs will remain in the existing www.njoemscert.com system.
Any PFANJ member seeking candidacy to an elected office, or running for re-election within their local Board of Fire Commissioners in the upcoming election is asked to contact PFANJ 1st Vice President George Borek as soon as possible. This will permit us time so we can secure the support of our membership and "Get out the Vote".
George may be reached at our State Office (609-396-9766) or via cell phone (609) 240-2875.
The Department of Justice announcement the VCF is accepting claims for the First Responder
injuries associated with the attacks or with debris removal.
Individuals who wish to visit the VCF’s site, learn more about the eligibility criteria, or receive future communications regarding the VCF should visit: www.vcf.gov or call: 1-855-885-1555
You Could Be Eligible for Benefits Under the Zadroga Bill IAFF members who responded to the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks on September 11 may be eligible for benefits under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, also known as the Zadroga Bill. The bill, signed into law on January 5, 2011, provides for funding for existing medical monitoring and treatment programs for people at the World Trade Center on 9/11 or involved with the cleanup at Ground Zero who have suffered illnesses from the toxic dust and debris.
Passage of the Zadroga Bill is significant for thousands of first responders, including IAFF members, who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts. IAFF members who participated and live outside the tri-state area are urged to call Logistics Health Inc. (LHI) at (877) 498-2911 or visit this web site to register for the program. The program includes no cost annual monitoring and necessary treatment and medication for the World Trade Center conditions listed.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR CHAPTER 330 RETIREES
We have just received information on the State Health Benefits Plan with respect to Chapter 330 Retirees. There was no information disseminated from the firefighter’s representative of the state's newly created "State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee", but there are substantial changes made to the State Health Benefits Plan that will be costly to Chapter 330 Retirees. An example is a retiree who in 2011 opted for the Aetna HMO for a family plan, paid $385.66 per month for health insurance. The same plan will cost the retiree $631.92 in 2012.
Below is a link to a printable comparison document, a link to the State Health Benefits Website and a printable change form. We apologize for the late notice, but we just received notice of the hidden charges.
Save Camden City Police Dept. There is a proposed plan to dismantle Camden's City Police Department in favor of creating a county one. While current local elected officials support this plan, many experts, law enforcement officers and members of the public do not.
The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey supports the efforts of our "Brothers in Blue" and we encourage the public to view the Camden City Police FOP Lodge 1 Facebook page.
November 1, 2011
Memo From: Thomas H. Miller, General Secretary-Treasurer
International Association of fire Fighters
Subject: Submit Your Local Constitution and By-Laws
At the IAFF 2010 Convention, delegates passed a resolution requiring locals to submit to the General Secretary-Treasurer a current copy of their respective constitution and by-laws in a searchable electronic format. As of this date, my office has not received an electronic version of your local's constitution.
* Please forward your constitution as soon as possible to: constitution@iaff.org.
For more information, contact the IAFF at (202) 737-8484 or email constitution@iaff.org.
Fraternally, Thomas H. Miller General Secretary-Treasurer
*If your local has already submitted a revised constitution that is in the approval process, please disregard this notice.
N.J. Unions, Public Workers Sue to Stop Pension, Benefits Overhaul A court battle over benefits began on August 31, 2011, as dozens of the state’s public sector unions, workers and retirees filed a lawsuit in federal court to overturn the newly enacted overhaul of pension and health benefit care benefits.
To All Local Affiliates and Members,
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, please know that the State Association and the IAFF are here to assist in anyway necessary in the event that any of our members suffer a catastrophic loss due to the hurricane. I ask that you contact the State office as soon as feasible with any needs that you may require. We will do whatever we can to assist.
We have been in constant communication with IAFF 1st District Vice President Kevin Gallagher and IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
The State Office may have to be closed tomorrow (Monday, August 29th), but we will be checking emails as well as phone messages throughout the day and will respond accordingly and promptly.
The state office email is: PFANJ@aol.com and the phone number is
609-396-9766.
You may also use any of the contact information below:
Dominick Marino, President
cell: (201) 401-2663 / email: dmarino@pfanj.org
To NJ PERC Constituents, Labor Relations Professionals and Interested
Parties: PERC has modified the Unfair Practice Charge Form, and asks parties to utilize the new form immediately. The changes to the form include hyperlinks, space for a second respondent, and details about the status of negotiations, if any. Additionally, the form seeks more specific information about matters at PERC or other forums that are based upon the same facts alleged in the charge. We hope the new form will expedite
processing of charges.
The Unspoken Truth About Pensions
The efforts to shift blame to public employee unions for any projected shortfalls in the pension system are the equivalent to calling in a fire alarm on a house that you set ablaze.
N.J. Public Workers Aren't the Enemy - or the Solution - in Budget Battle
Sorry, but there were no "union thugs" on the streets of Trenton last week when the Legislature voted to impose thousands of dollars of new and unexpected costs on a half-million public workers and retirees. And, if the day brought a great political victory by Gov. Chris Christie over big, bad unions, it is likely to come at great cost to just plain people.
Attacking Collective Bargaining by Public Employees is Shortsighted
Pssst (Shhh) – KEEP IT A SECRET: Public employees are human beings. No, really! They ‘re flesh-and-blood fellow citizens and some of them (gasp) are our neighbors. We may even have some of them in our family.
Governors are Singing the Wrong Tune
An increasing number of governors are joining New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s antiworker chorus.
Too bad they’re all off key.
To All IAFF Local Leaders: When trying to contact District Vice President Gallagher via mail/certified letter, please mail it to his New York Office to avoid delays. That address is :
Kevin Gallagher
2004 East 29th St.
Brooklyn NY 11229
The fastest way to reach him continues to be by e-mail (kgallagher@iaff.org) or by cell phone (1-917-767-9639)
Mailing it to the IAFF Headquarters will cause unnecessary delays in him receiving it and in his response to your needs.
Support the Program that Supports the Fund of Our Widows and Children
It has been brought to our attention that there may have been some confusion as to the name we (PFANJ) is enrolled in with the Affinity Membership Program. We are enrolled as the NJ Professional Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund (Code:P6)
When opening an account with TD Bank or enrolling your existing account(s) with the Program, please reference the above enrolled name for the PFANJ.
To reiterate and to ask for your support, open an account with TD Bank and they will make an annual contribution to our Emergency Relief Fund (Widows' and Children's Fund) based on average balances in our members' accounts. (Our Emergency Relief Fund was established to aid the surviving families of our firefighters who make the Supreme Sacrifice in the performance of their duties.)
If you are already a TD Bank Customer, simply ask to have your balances included as part of the NJ Professional Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund (Code:P6) Affinity Membership Program.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you.
The Truth About Arbitration
Many politicians, local and state, want everyone to believe that binding
arbitration is the reason local property taxes are high, when this simply is not true.
Click
here for a downloadable and printable IAFF document
"Showing
and Demonstration of Interest"
for those individuals wishing to learn
more about
and affiliate with the International Association of Fire Fighters...
Kindly fill out the form and then mail it to the
State Association Office
ASAP!
Save The Date: 2012 Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference March 25-28, 2012 Washington, DC (additional information forthcoming, including online registration)
Save The Date: PFANJ Valor Awards Dinner Thursday, March 29, 2012 PNC Reception Center Holmdel, NJ
(additional information forthcoming)
